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irrata 
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6 

Donald  Grant. 


Page  6. 


Frontispiece. 


N  T'S 


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I 


Donald  Grants  Development. 


BY 


J.  MACDONALD  OXLEY, 

Author  o/" Bert  Lloyd's  Boyhood,"  "  Up  Among  the  Ice  Floes,"  etc. 


PHILADELPHIA  ! 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETF, 
1420  Chestnut  Street. 


261459 


Entered,  acoording  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1892,  by  the 

AMEKICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


!  / 


CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

CHAPTER  I. 

[B  HOMK  AT  KlYERVA'LX, 6 

CHAPTER  II. 
[E  Crossroads  School, 16 

CHAPTER  III. 

EACIIRRS  AND  TbACHKRS, 26 

CHAPTER  IV. 

[B  YlLLAGB  ACADKMY, ....        37 

CHAPTER  V. 
[akinq  His  Way, 48 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Worthy  Victory, 69 

CHAPTER  VII. 
lOM  Scholar  to  Teacher, <    .    .    .      69 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
tE  Smoothing  of  the  Way, 80 

CHAPTER  IX. 
[E  Prophet  in  His  Own  Country, 91 

CHAPTER  X. 
[E  Turning  of  the  Tide, 101 

CHAPTER  XI. 

[Successful  Experiment, Ill 

8 


4  CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER  XII.  '^"*' 

LKAYira  THE  Nest, 123^ 

CHAPTER  XIII.  lanni 

Novel  Surroundings, 132»iJLA/- 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
A  Good  Start  at  the  University, W 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Settling  Down  to  Work, IWi 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  Winning  of  the  Debate,    .    .    ,    , ^^^W^rwri 

CHAPTER  XVII.  V     Ri 

Into  A  Larger  Live, 177™ .i       ^ 

CHAPTER  XVII L  •ads  m 

A  New  Sphere  of  Activity, W  >^q  are 

CHAPTER  XIX.  M^^^  * 

The  Institute  at  Work, 201  S^ere  t] 

CHAPTER  XX.  W^  ""^' 

Honors  on  a  New  Field, 213  8  Just  i 

CHAPTER  XXL  #""^^ 

A  Timely  Service 22WP^opr' 

CHAPTER  XXII.  M 

A  Young  People's  Church, 230^op,  an 

CHAPTER  XXIIT.  ^^  ^^^^ 

The  Close  op  the  College  Year, 23|Bc  road 

CHAPTER  XXIV.  «J"^^^'  ^ 

rHoME  Missionary  Work, 28J^**tam  s 

jre  cha 

CHAPTER  XXV.  ■ 

By  Way  of  Conclusion, 241^^  ^"^^ 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  HOME  AT  KIVERVALE. 

lOME  six  miles  inland  from  where  the  lower  North 

River  mingles  its  sweet  brown  flood  with  the  salt  blue 

les  of  Bay  view  Harbor,  in  the  Province  of  Acadia,  two 

^ads  meet  upon  the  western  bank,  and  combining  into 

ie  are  carried  by  a  long,  gray  wooden  bridge  across  the 

icid  stream  and   fertile  interval  to  the  farther  side, 

lere  the  way  continues  on  up  the  rounded  slope  of  the 

11  until  it  vanishes  in  the  woods  that  crest  the  summit. 

Just  at  the  junction  of  the  roads  and  commanding  the 

irting  ways,  stands  the  settlement  bearing  the  name,  as 

)propriate  as  it  is  attractive,  of  Rivervale.    It  is  not  a 

rge  settlement.     A  general  store,  a  carriage-maker's 

iop,  and  a  forge,  with  their  attendant  homes,  barns,  and 

Itbuildings,  constitute  its  centre,  while  scattered  along 

|e  roads  leading  to  it,  at  wide  intervals,  are  the  farm- 

^uses,  each  in  the  midst  of  its  own  grounds,  yet  in  a 

Irtain  sense  connected  with  the  others.    There  are  few 

)re  charming  landscapes  to  be  found  in  the  Acadian  prov- 

than  the  vicinage  of  Rivervale  presents,  and  certainly 


6 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


i|;i 


none  of  the  houses  in  the  settlement  had  a  more  delightful 
situation  than  that  occupied  by  the  dwelling  of  Qrant,  j 
the  carpenter,  so  designated  in  order  to  distinguish  him 
from  his  neighbor,  Grant,  the  blacksmith,  of  whom  we 
shall  speak  more  presently. 

It  was  a  white  cottage  built  against  the  slope  of  the 
river  bank  in  such  a  way  that,  whereas  on  the  water  side  | 
it  looked  quite  imposing  with  its  two  full  stories  and  a 
half,  on  the  land  side  it  showed  a  story  lass.    The  front  | 
door  faced  the  road,  and  as  is  the  case  in  so  many  rural 
homes,  was  rarely  ever  opened.    The  back  door  opened 
upon  a  rather  unkempt  little  garden  leading  down  to  he 
interval  through  which  the  river  glided  silently  on  to  the 
sea.    Across  the  interval  and  above  the  river,  the  bridge 
stretched  its  gaunt  length,  its  trusses  and  abutments  full 
of  fascination  for  the  boys,  who  seemed  never  to  wearj 
of  climbing  about  them  as  agile  and  fearless  as  monkeys  | 
in  their  native  forest,  or  diving  from  their  lower  courses 
into  the  dark  brown  pools  slumbering  at  the  abutments' 
feet,  or  of  enacting  the  perilous  part  of  Blondin,  as  they 
walked  V7ith  cautious  feet  along  the  hand-rail,  or  even 
essayed  the  topmost  stringer  when  their  reckless  mood; 
was  at  its  height. 

Throughout  the  length  of  the  North  River  valley  the 
soil  is  fertile  and  quick  to  give  good  returns  to  those  who; 
cultivate  it  diligently,  so  that  there  always  has  been  mucbj 
comfort  among  the  residents,  even  if  little  actual  wealth' 
The  various  farmhouses,  each  surrounded  by  its  dark 
green  grove  of  apple  and  pear  trees,  are  well  built  and 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


e  of  the 
ater  side 
38  and  a 
'he  front 
ny  rural 
►r  opened 
ivn  to  lie 
on  to  the 
be  bridge 
lents  full^ 
to  weary 
monkeys 
r  courses 
jutments' 
I,  as  they 
,  or  even 
ess  moodj 

alley  the' 
hose  who^ 
een  muclii 
il  wealth, 
its  darkj 
)uilt  andl 


roomy,  as  indeed  they  have  need  to  be ;  for  there  are  few 
)f  them  that  do  not  shelter  a  whole  tribe  of  boys  and 
firls. 
This  was  as  much  the  case  twenty  years  ago  as  it  is  to- 

Iday,  and  the  white  cottage  of  Grant,  the  carpenter,  had 
no  reason  to  be  ashamed,  for  it  held  its  due  share  of 
young  people.  There  were  seven  of  them  in  all,  six 
boys,  with  capacities  for  consuming  fo<  d  and  wearing  out 

[clothes,  and  one  girl,  the  baby  ind  pet  of  the  family. 

{This  large  family  often  filled  cneir  fatler  with  keen 
V  .iicern,  for  his  business  did  not  brii^^'  him  very  large 
returns. 

Hugh,  the  eldest  son,  was  the  father's  boy  in  form  and 
features;  tall  and  thin,  with  black  hair,  sallow  8kin,  and 
a  gentle,  almost  shrinking,  manner,  although  there  gleamed 
in  his  eye  when  much  provoked  a  fierce  flash  that  be- 
tokened there  was  a  limit  to  his  patience  which  it  might 
not  be  safe  to  overstep.  Quite  as  a  matter  of  course,  as 
soon  as  he  learned  all  that  the  little  school  at  the  cross- 
roads could  teach  him,  he  took  his  place  beside  his  father 
in  the  shop.  Attentive,  careful,  steadfast,  he  soon  became 
a  valuable  assistant,  although,  as  so  often  happens  with 
the  quiet,  unobtrusive  kind,  he  was  not  appreciated  at 
home  as  fully  as  he  deserved. 

Donald  came  next,  and  in  him  wa»  a  remarkable 
blending  of  the  characters  of  both  his  parents.  Like 
his  father,  his  hair  and  eyes  were  black ;  but  like  his 
mother's,  the  former  was  crisp  and  curly,  and  the  latter 
expressive  of  determination  and  high  spirit ;  for  Mrs. 


warn 


Hii 


8 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


,  I 


t'.  I 


Grant  was  a  proud,  ambitious  woman,  whose  hope  in  life, 
so  far  as  material  advancement  went,  had  been  far  from 
realized,  and  who  now  sought  to  comfort  herself  by  the 
expectation  that  among  her  flock  of  boys  there  was  one, 
at  least,  who  would  win  the  prize  her  husband  had  some- 
how missed. 

Of  the  six,  Donald  seemed  in  her  eyes  to  promise  the 
best,  and  if  she  permitted  herself  to  have  a  favorite  it  was 
he.  In  height  he  stood  only  half  an  inch  less  than  Hugh, 
but  his  figure,  instead  of  being  thin,  was  well  filled  out  and 
pleasantly  symmetrical.  His  complexion  was  a  light 
olive  with  warm  patches  of  color  in  his  cheeks,  and  his 
feature?,  although  not  strictly  regular,  harmonized  enough 
to  entitle  him  to  be  considered  a  good-looking  boy. 

In  his  mental  make-up  there  was  the  same  combination 
of  father  and  mother.  Abounding  in  spirit  and  energy, 
brave  almost  to  the  verge  of  recklessness,  he  nevertheless 
had  a  good  spice  of  his  father's  caution,  and  generally 
had  the  good  sense  to  know  when  to  retire  from  a  false 
position.  All  his  mother's  ambition  had  descended  to 
him.  With  each  year  of  growth  his  horizon  widened, 
until  by  the  time  he  was  fifteen,  his  outlook  went  far 
beyond  the  bounds  of  Rivervale.  The  plane,  the  sledge- 
hammer and  the  scythe  were  alike  distasteful  to  him. 
He  would  be  a  worker  with  his  head  rather  than  with  his 
hands,  and  would  keep  himself  ever  ready  for  the  oppor- 
tunity which  his  mother,  who  sympathized  in  all  his 
aspirations,  assured  him  would  infallibly  come. 

After  Donald  was  Charlie,  a  blue-eyed,  golden-haired. 


i  i! 


Ill 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


B  in  life, 
far  from 
r  bv  the 
was  one, 
id  some- 

oDiise  the 
ite  it  was 
n  Hugh, 
[  out  and 
a  light 
and  his 
i  enough 

bination 
energy, 
ertheless 
enerally 
n  a  false 
nded  to 
tvidened, 
vent  far 
e  sledge- 
to  him. 
with  his 
e  oppor- 
all   his 

i-haired. 


rosy-cheeked  chap,  the  handsomest,  merriest  member  of 
tlie  family.  A  romping,  reckless,  impulsive  character 
was  Charlie ;  a  leader  in  every  form  of  mischief,  and 
able,  in  some  mysterious  way,  to  influence  the  self-con- 
tained Hugh  more  than  any  of  the  others.  He  and 
Donald  were  particular  friends.  Their  very  difference 
of  disposition  seemed  to  draw  them  closer  together,  and 
they  were  well-nigh  inseparable. 

The  desire  of  Charlie's  heart  was  to  go  to  sea,  but  in 
this  he  had  the  sympathy  of  neither  parent.  His  father 
wished  him  to  learn  blacksmithing.  His  mother  was  not 
particular  whether  he  learned  that  or  farming,  so  long  as 
he  did  not  leave  Rivervale;  for,  with  a  mother's  sure 
intuition,  she  realized  that  his  nature  was  one  that  would 
render  him  peculiarly  open  to  the  temptations  of  the 
world,  and  in  no  calling  would  he  be  more  exposed  to 
such  danger  than  in  that  of  the  sea.  For  the  present, 
the  parental  influence  was  strong  enough  to  keep  him  at 
home,  where  he  attended  school  or  helped  at  the  forge 
pretty  much  as  he  pleased,  his  father  deeming  it  wise  not 
to  curb  him  too  strictly,  lest  he  should  be  tempted  to  run 
awav.  as  so  manv  boys  had  done  before  him. 

Next  to  Charlie  came  Duncan,  a  small,  soft-voiced, 
rather  sly  kind  of  boy,  always  on  the  lookout  for  number 
one,  who  had  to  stand  a  good  deal  of  ridicule  from  his 
playmates  because  of  certain  feminine  characteristics 
that  earned  for  him  the  nickname  of  "  Sissv." 

Then  there  were  the  twins — the  pride  and  joy  of  the 
household  ;  a  pair  of  plump  and  lively  mischiefs  not  to 


■li^ 


srm 


10 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


'  iii 


i!l 


be  matched  in  the  whole  countrv.  Robert  and  Harold 
were  the  excellent  names  given  them  by  their  parents, 
which,  of  course,  were  promptly  cut  down  to  Bob  and 
Harry,  and  a  little  later  on.  under  the  pretence  of  their 
inability  to  distinguish  one  from  the  other,  the  boys  linked 
the  two  abbreviations  into  one,  producing  a  curious  com- 
pound, "  Bobanharry,"  which  they  applied  indifferently 
to  both,  and  to  which  the  youngsters  never  failed  to  re- 
spond. 

Last  of  all  came  the  only  daughter,  a  sturdy,  solid  bit 
of  a  girl,  with  a  sweet,  unselfish  nature  that  saved  her 
from  being  spoiled  by  the  petting  she  received  on  all 
sides.  Margaret  was  her  name  in  full,  but  Meg  was  what 
they  all  called  her,  and  it  suited  her  far  better  than  the 
more  staid  and  dignified  appellation. 

Although,  as  has  been  hinted,  Mr.  Grant  could  scarcely 
be  called  well-to-do,  he  did  manage,  by  dint  of  making 
the  most  of  his  little  farm,  to  supplement  the  earnings 
of  his  carriage-making  sufficiently  to  maintain  a  com- 
fortable home  for  his  large  family ;  and  the  members  of 
it  had,  upon  the  whole,  about  as  happy  a  time  of  it  as 
any  other  family  in  Rivervale.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant 
held  very  sensible  views  as  to  the  management  of  their 
children.  They  were  firm,  without  being  unduly  strict. 
They  respected  the  individuality  of  each  child,  and  did 
not  look  for  a  mechanical  uniformity.  They  did  not 
demand  from  frolicking,  thoughtless  Charlie  the  same 
painstaking  fulfillment  of  directions  that  they  never  failed 
to  receive  from  sure  and  steadfast  Hugh. 


!it 

Ml 

!i 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


11 


Harold 
parents, 
Bob  and 
I  of  their 
^s  linked 
ious  com- 
ifferently 
led  to  re- 
solid  bit 
aved  her 
td  on  all 
was  what 
than  the 

scarcely 

making 

earnings 

1  a  com- 

mbers  of 

i  of  it  as 

rs.  Grant 

;  of  their 

ily  strict. 

and  did 

did  not 

the  same 

ver  failed 


».'i 


"They  are  very  different  from  each  other,  Ellen," 
said  Mr.  Grant  to  his  wife,  as  they  were  talking  together 
one  evening  after  the  young  people  had  settled  down  for 
the  night.  ^'  And  I  am  better  pleased  that  it  is  so  than 
if  they  were  all  alike.  They  each  have  their  own  good 
points,  haven't  they  ?  " 

"  Indeed  the}  have.  Alec,"  was  Mrs.  Grant's  reply,  her 
countenance  beaming  with  mingled  love  and  pride  as  she 
mentally  reviewed  her  darlin.^s'  various  characteristics, 
and  found  abundant  good  in  each.  "At  the  same  time 
I  am  very  glad  that  Hugh  is  the  eldest,  for  he  will  be  a 
great  help  to  you  as  he  grows  up  to  manhood,  and  can 
take  some  of  your  work  off  your  shoulders.  For  indeed, 
Alec  dear,  I  am  afraid  you  do  have  to  work  too  hard, 
with  so  many  mouths  to  feed  and  so  many  backs  to  clothe. 
You  are  getting  to  have  a  worn  look  that  I  don't  like  at 
all." 

"  Oh,  I'm  right  enough !  "  answered  Mr.  Grant,  with  a 
reassuring  smile.  "  I  do  happen  to  feel  a  bit  tired  to- 
night, but  that  is  all." 

With  a  half-suppressed  sigh,  Mrs.  Grant  rose  and  began 
to  set  the  room  in  order,  for  the  boys  never  failed  to  dis- 
arrange it  most  completely  before  betaking  themselves  to 
bed.  The  fact  of  the  matter  was,  she  felt  a  good  deal  of 
concern  about  her  husband.  Although  he  himself  would 
not  admit  it,  he  undoubtedly  was  losing  some  of  the  vigor 
and  strength  that  had  distinguished  him.  The  end  of  tha 
day's  work  always  found  him  very  weary,  and  glad  to  rest 
quietly  at  home,  whereas  not  long  before  he  had  been 


!■■.  i 


/ 


1 1'. 


12 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


i 


Ml 


I  i:  I 

i! 


Ml' 


ll!' 


ill 


fond  of  dropping  in  upon  his  neighbors  for  a  social  chat, 
or  of  having  a  game  of  quoits  in  the  open  space  in  front 
of  his  shop. 

But  like  a  wise  woman  who  had  faith  in  an  overruling 
Providence,  no  less  all-merciftil  than  all-powerful,  she  did 
not  suffer  thtse  anxious  thoughts  to  weigh  too  heavily 
upon  her  heart.  In  many  ways  her  lot  was  full  of  bless- 
ing. For  instance,  while  the  decorum  of  Grant  the 
blacksmith's  orderly  household  had  never  been  broken  in 
upon  by  the  happy  sound  of  childish  voices,  the  olive 
branches  were  many  about  her  table.  Again,  death  had 
visited  other  homes  and  taken  away  children  as  dearly 
loved  as  her  own,  while  her  family  circle  was  unbroken. 

Then,  even  above  these  blessings  did  her  soul  take 
comfort  in  the  bright  promise  she  read  in  her  boys ;  foi 
she  and  her  husband  had  striven  to  bring  them  up  in  the 
fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  so  far,  at  least, 
their  care  and  prayers  seemed  not  to  be  in  vain. 

Neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Grant  were  rigidly  religious.  They 
did  not,  like  Squire  Stewart,  make  the  Sabbath  a  day  to 
be  dreaded  by  the  children  because  of  its  dreary  solemnity 
and  preternatural  dullness.  They  could  not  help  the 
church  services  being  sadly  lacking  in  interest  to  young 
minds,  for  good  old  Dr.  Sternhold  never  dreamed  of 
adapting  his  discourses,  which  were  as  lengthy  as  they 
were  erudite  and  prosy,  to  comprehensions  much  below 
that  of  the  squire  himself,  who  sat  with  rigid  dignity  in 
his  big  pew,  nodding  approval  to  each  point  from  firstly 
to  fourteenthlv. 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


13 


To  all  the  boys  except  Hugh  those  Sunday  services 
seemed  to  be  a  species  of  purgatory.  His  gentle,  patient 
spirit  enabled  him  to  endure  them  with  scarce  a  wriggle, 
causing  the  preacher  to  form  a  very  high  opinion  of  him, 
and  when  he  had  opportunity,  to  pat  him  approvingly  on 
the  head  and  say,  with  a  meaning  glance  at  any  of  the 
others  who  happened  to  be  within  hearing :  "  You  have  a 
very  good  boy  here,  Mrs.  Grant.  He  seems  to  lose  not  a 
word  of  mv  discourse.  It  would  be  well  if  the  rest  of 
the  boys  in  the  congregation  would  imitate  his  most  com- 
mendable example." 

Could  Dr.  Sternhold  have  seen  into  Hugh's  mind,  he 
would  have  read  there  an  unspoken  protest  against  what 
he  felt  to  be  undeserved  praise ;  for,  in  reality,  the  sermons 
were  to  him  little  belter  than  an  unintelligible  combina- 
tion of  words  read  off  from  a  bulky  manuscript,  in  a  dry, 
harsh  voice  almost  entirely  devoid  of  expression.  But 
he  was  altogether  too  resei-ved  and  sensitive  to  undeceive 
the  grand  old  pastor,  who  accordingly  remained  in  bliss- 
ful ignorance. 

There  was,  however,  one  part  of  the  churchgoing  that 
the  boys  really  did  enjoy,  and  that  was  the  drive  in  to  the 
village,  four  miles  away,  where  the  church  lifted  its  white 
spire  skyward,  and  then  the  drive  home  again,  with  purg- 
atory over  for  another  week.  How  eagerly  they  helped 
in  catching  the  horses  and  harnessing  them  to  the  long, 
three-seated  express  wagon  which  was  required  to  carry 
the  whole  family;  and  how  earnestly  they  contended  for 
the  privilege  of  holding  the  reins  while  they  were  passing 


m 


14 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


I  :l 


I    I  ' 


iill 


i  I 


through  the  woods,  where  the  road  was  so  safe  that  Mr. 
Grant  could,  without  compunction,  hand  over  the  reins 
to  one  of  the  elder  boys,  who  naturally  felt  it  to  be  a 
great  honor  to  drive  so  imposing  a  team. 

Then  after  they  returned  with  keen  appetites  for  the 
dinner  which  would  be  prepared  with  all  possible  expedi- 
tion by  the  bustling  mother,  there  would  be  the  long 
afternoon  during  which  they  might  do  pretty  much  what 
they  pleased,  provided  they  did  not  indulge  in  any  of 
their  weekday  sports  and  pastimes. 

In  the  evening  all  would  gatl  ir  in  the  best  parlor, 
where  Mr.  Grant,  with  his  wife's  co-operation,  would  hold 
a  kind  of  Sunday-school,  giving  instruction  in  the  cate- 
chism and  the  Bible,  which  he  sought  to  make  as  simple 
and  interesting  as  possible.    There  was  a  wonderful  dif- 
ference between  his  method  and  that  of  Dr.  Sternhold ; 
for  although  he  could  not  lay  claim  to  any  great  degree 
of  education,  he  had  a  shrewd,  observant,  retentive  mind 
that  enabled  him  to  profit  to  the  utmost  by  such  scanty 
advantages  as  had  fallen  in  his  way ;  and,  moreover,  he 
possessed  a  goodly  spice  of  mother  wit,  that  rendered  his 
conversation,  when  natural  and  unconstrained  as  it  of 
course  always  was  in  the  bosom  of  his  f 'mily,  exceedingly 
interesting.    He  made  the  heroes  of  tne  Bible  as  real  to 
his  boys  as  the  heroes  of  English  history.  To  them  Moses 
was  no  less  actual  a  personage  than  Alfred  the  Great; 
,  and  David  shared  their  heartfelt  admiration   with  the 
Black  Prince. 

Such  was  the  home  in  which  Donald  Grant's  develop- 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


15 


at  Mr. 

e  reins 
to  be  a 

for  the 
expedi- 
le  loug 
ih  what 
auy  of 

parlor, 
lid  hold 
he  cate- 
i  simple 
^ful  dif- 
rnhold ; 
degree 
re  mind 
scanty 
3ver,  he 
red  his 
13  it  of 
edingly 
real  to 
a  Moses 
Great ; 
ith  the 


lent  began ;  and  in  order  to  try  and  give  a  clear  picture 

|of  it,  this  opening  chapter  has  somewhat  overrun  the  in- 

Itended  course  of  the  story,  so  that  in  the  succeeding 

[chapters  there  must  be  a  certain   harking   back,  that 

[everything  may  be  brought  into  due  sequence.    As  may 

Ibe  seen,  there  was  nothing  that  could  be  called  notable 

j  about  his  early  surroundings.     They  were,  so  to  speak, 

^eminently  commonplace.    Yet  he  showed  himself  in  later 

lyears  to  be  a  young  man  quite  out  of  the  ordinary ; 

^otherwise,  indeed,  there  would  be  no  justification  for  this 

frecord.    Therefore But  let  the  story  explain  itself 

[as  it  progresses. 


^^f 


evelop- 


w 


I 
1:; 


I 


I        I. 


i'l' 


ifi 

'll! 


i 


iii! 


.1! 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  CROSSROADS  SCHOOL. 


THE  facilities  for  acquiring  an  education  at  Rivervale 
were,  to  say  the  least,  very  meagre.  The  bulk  of 
the  population  in  the  neighborhood  was  made  up  of 
Scotch  Roman  Catholics,  hard-headed,  narrow-minded 
folk,  who,  so  long  as  their  sons  were  proficient  in  the  use 
of  the  plough  and  pitchfork,  and  their  daughters  skillful 
in  the  production  of  good  butter  and  strong  yarn,  took 
little  thought  for  intellectual  attainments,  and  were  quite 
content  to  do  without  teaching  in  any  form. 

Of  the  few  Protestants,  Squire  Stewart  was  of  course 
the  most  prominent ;  a  fine-looking  old  man,  who  had,  be- 
neath a  stern  demeanor  and  a  hard  voice,  as  kind  and 
generous  a  heart  as  there  was  in  the  county.  His  long 
residence  at  Rivervale,  his  commanding  ways,  and  his 
wealth  had  made  him  a  sort  of  autocrat.  He  owned  the 
general  store,  and  nearly  everybody  within  a  radius  of 
three  miles  was  "on  his  books."  He  held  a  clear  title  to 
thousands  of  acres  of  the  best  land  within  sight,  while  his 
mortgages  encumbered  the  titles  of  a  score  of  the  farmers 
round  about,  who  sometimes  found  it  no  easy  matter  to 
satisfy  the  squire  and  the  needs  of  their  families  at  the 
same  time. 

He  was  a  Presbyterian  of  the  strictest  Old  Kirk  School, 
16 


i 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


17 


laving  scanty  charity  for  those  who  did  not  belong  to 
lis  particular  section  of  the  divine  sheepfold.     The  one 
Ihing  that  prevented  an  intimacy  existing  between  him 
}nd  Grant,  the  carpenter,  that  would  have  been  of  much 
benefit  to  both — for  they  sincerely  admired  each  other's 
)od  qualities — was  the  fact  of  the  latter  being  a  Bap- 
ist.    The  squire  never  could  bring  himself  to  forbear 
locuinal  discussion  when  they  had  opportunity  for  con- 
versation together,  and  however  admirably  Mr.  Grant 
light  keep  both  tongue  and  temper  under  control,  tlie 
|uiet  yet  steadfast  firmness  with  which  he  adhered  to  his 
wn  views  seemed  to  enrage  the  testy  old  gentleman 
)out  as  much  as  if  he  had  roared  back  at  him  in  his 
r'n  style;   and  the   consequence  was,  no   matter  how 
jntly  the   discussion   might   begin,   it    almost    always 
ided  in  a  volcanic  explosion. 

While  the  squire's  children  were  growing  up,  there 

id  been  a  schoolhouse  in  a  charming  nook  on  the  other 

le  of  the  river,  for  which  he  had  made  it  his  business 

see  that  there  was  always  a  good  teacher  provided, 

jually  paying  the  bulk  of  the  salary  out  of  his  own 

icket.    But  after  his  sons  and  daughters  had  grown  up 

[d  gone  away,  all  save  one  daughter  who  would  not 

ive  him  in  his  loneliness, — the  mother  having  been  for 

iny  years  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  reward  of  a  saintly 

-the  squire  lost  all  interest  in  the  school,  and  after  a 

ful  existence  it  had  flickered  out  altogether.     Conse- 

jntly,  when  the  Grant  boys  began  to  approach  the  age  of 

Ing  to  school,  there  was  no  school  to  which  they  could  go. 

-  »     ^     ■   • 


m 


18 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


1, 
i 

j 

I 

i 

j          • 

! 

II 

1 

i 

i 

bl^ 

■  In  this  emergency  Mr.  Grant  went  to  the  squire  and 
laid  the  case  before  him.  Here  surely  was  a  state  of 
affairs  that  ought  to  enlist  his  interest  and  influence. 
The  squire  listened  in  grim  silence  to  the  carpenter's 
earnest  presentation  of  the  case,  and,  when  he  had  fin- 
ished, giving  him  a  shrewd,  sharp  glance  through  his 
gold-rimmed  spectacles,  asked  in  his  direct  tone : 

"  And  what  kind  of  a  teacher  would  you  like  to  have, 
Neighbor  Grant?" 

"As  good  as  could  be  got,  squire,"  was  the  reply. 
"  We  can't,  of  course,  pay  much  of  a  salary,  so  I  suppose 
we  must  not  put  our  expectations  too  high.'' 

"  No,  indeed,  nor  keep  the  school  open  all  the  year. 
We  can  have  teaching  only  through  the  summer,  anyway; 
but  that  is  not  what  I  want.  I  was  thinking  that,  as  it 
would  be  mainly  for  the  benefit  of  your  boys  that  the 
teacher  would  be  engaged,  you  would  not  be  satisfied  un- 
less he  was  a  Baptist,  like  yourself — eh?  And  let  me  tell 
you,  I  will  never  raise  my  little  finger  to  get  a  teacher 
on  those  conditions."  And  having  thus  delivered  him- 
self, the  old  man  settled  back  sternly  in  his  chair,  his 
whole  expression  saying,  "  That's  my  ultimatum ;  now  | 
make  the  best  of  it." 

But  Mr.  Grant  seemed  in  nowise  disconcerted  by  this 
bombshell.    Smiling  in  his  pleasantest  manner,  he  leaned  | 
toward  the  squire,  as  he  hastened  to  respond :   "  My  dear 
isquire,  I  am  afraid  you  think  me  to  be  a  much  more  j 
narrow-minded  person  than  I  really  am.     I  can  assure 
you  that  so  long  as  the  teacher  is  competent  for  the  work, 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


10 


re  and 
tate  of 
luence. 
)enter'3 
lad  fin- 
Ligh  hi3 

to  have, 

e   reply, 
suppose 

he  year, 
anyway; 
^at,  as  it  I 
that  the  '| 
isfied  un- 
it me  tell  . 

teacher  ^ 
red  him- 
chair,  his 

ra ;  now 

by  this 
le  leaned 
My  dear 
ich  more 
m  assure 
Ithe  work, 


and  is  a  decent,  respectable  fellow,  it  will  matter  not  the 
flip  of  the  finger  to  me  whether  he  be  Baptist,  Methodist, 
or  Presbyterian.  For  that  matter,  I  am  quite  content 
tliat  the  choice  of  him  should  rest  entirely  with  you,  and 
then  you  can  satisfy  y.^urself  that  among  other  good 
qualities  he  holds  that  particular  shade  of  doctrine  which 
lis  held  by  your  especial  branch  of  the  Presbyterian 
[Church." 

There  was  a  sly  twinkle  of  humor  in  Mr.  Grant's  eye 

las  he  said  this,  because  the  relations  between  the  different 

Isections  of  tlie  Presbvterian  Church  in  Acadia  had  been 

80  acutely  strained  for  years  past,  that  they  were  much 

[more  inclined  to  hold  fellowship  with  other  denominations 

than  with  one  another. 

The  squire  noted  the  twinkle,  but  wisely  ignored  it,  and 
,ith  much  of  the  sternness  gone  out  of  his  countenance, 
said :  "  Well,  if  you  leave  the  matter  altogether  in  my 
lands,  I  will  do  my  best  to  help  you.  We  ought  to  have 
trustee  board  formed  at  once.  You,  and  Grant,  the 
)lacksmith,  and  Andy  Chesholm,  across  the  river,  with 
nyself,  will  be  enough.  I  will  see  to  that." 
After  some  further  conversation,  Mr.  Grant  went  away 
luch  elated  at  the  success  of  his  application ;  for  what- 
jver  the  squire  promised  to  "  see  to  "  was  as  good  as  done. 
[is  reputation  for  keeping  his  word  to  the  uttermost  of 
luman  power  went  far  beyond  the  bo-nds  of  Rivervale. 
The  squire  did  "  see  to  it "  with  his  customary  prompti- 
iide.  The  board  of  trustees  as  suggested  by  him  was 
liuly  constituted,  the  necessary  steps  taken  for  the  pro- 


r 


20 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


j!!i!|fi 


i 

i 

i! 

vision  of  a  salary,  and  finally,  as  a  result  of  inquiry  among 
the  students  of  Chebucto  University,  situated  in  the  Pro- 
vincial capital,  the  services  of  a  second  year  student  were 
secured  for  the  school  at  Rivervale. 

Some  years  previous  to  the  school's  having  been  given 
up,  as  already  explained,  the  schoolhouse  had  been  moved 
across  the  river  to  a  new  site  at  the  Crossroads,  as  the 
junction  of  the  road  coming  from  Upper  North  River 
with  that  which  led  ultimately  away  out  to  the  north 
shore  was  always  called.  Here  it  was  almost  in  view  of 
Grant  the  carpenter's  cottage,  and  a  bare  quarter  of  a 
mile  away,  so  that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  about 
regular  attendance,  no  matter  what  the  weather. 

Here  Hugh  and  Donald  began  their  schooling  under 
Angus  McLeod,  a  tall,  gaunt,  sober-visaged  young  man, 
who  was  duly  certified  to  belong  to  the  strictest  school  of 
Old  Kirk  doctrine,  held  so  high  in  reverence  by  the  squire. 

The  two  youngsters — for  they  were  but  eight  and 
seven  years  respectively — at  first  entertained  feelings  of 
profound  awe  toward  their  teacher.  His  solemn  manner, 
his  deep,  harsh  voice,  and  his  way  of  chopping  up  his 
sentences,  made  them  think  he  was  in  a  chronic  state  of 
crossness ;  and  they  found  going  to  school  rather  an 
ordeal  until  they  came  to  a  better  understanding  of  Mr. , 
McLeod,  which  was  brought  about  in  this  way : 

They  were  the  only  Protestant  boys  in  the  school,  and 
th9  only  ones  whose  parents  had  taken  the  trouble  to 
teach  them  the  alphabet  and  the  multiplication  table.  | 
This  knowledge  naturally  gave  them  a  start  over  their f 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


21 


among 
le  Fro- 
nt were 

n  given 
I  moved 
,  08  the 
h  River 
le  north 
view  of 
•ter  of  a 
;y  about 

> 

ug  under 
ins  man, 
jchool  of 
le  squire. 
cr\\t  and 
elings  of 
manner, 
or  up  his 
state  of  I 
ather  an  | 
g  of  Mr.  I 

lool,  and] 

rouble  to 

)n  table.- 

Iver  their  j 


more  ignorant  schoolmates,  which,  combined  with  a  cer- 
tain innate  refinement  of  manner  that  they  inherited  from 
their  father,  could  not  fail  to  especially  enlist  their 
teacher's  interest  and  sympathy.  He  had  loo  much 
siirewd  sense  to  make  marked  favorites  of  them  ;  but 
tliey  soon  learned  that  he  was  more  than  their  teacher, 
placed  over  them  to  lead  them  through  a  mechanical 
round  of  petty  tasks  in  the  rudiments  of  education  ;  he 
w.  \  friend,  a  counsellor,  a  guide.  He  liked  Hugh's 
patient  plodding,  as  he  admired  Donald's  rejitless  energy. 
In  the  latter  he  was  not  slow  to  see  more  promise  of  a 
genuine  student  than  in  the  former.  Donald  was  far 
quicker  at  apprehension  than  his  elder  brother,  nor  was 
his  grasp  less  enduring. 

"  Eh,  Donald,  laddie,"  he  would  say,  patting  the  black 
curls,  and  looking  with  a  kind,  brotherly  expression  into 
the  bright,  eager  eyes,  "  ye  like  to  think  for  yourself, 
d(jn't  ye,  and  to  ask  questions.  I  greatly  hope  you  will 
live  to  get  to  Chebucto  University;  for  it  is  just  your 
kind  they  like  best  to  have  there." 

Donald,  of  course,  entirely  missed  the  point  of  the 
reference  to  the  university;  but  he  did  not  miss  the  big, 
grave  man's  winning  sympathy,  and  it  had  its  inspiring, 
helpful  influence  upon  him,  even  at  that  early  age. 

The  school  session  lasted  only  for  the  summer.  In  the 
autumn,  to  Donald's  especial  grief,  Mr.  McLeod  had  to 
return  to  his  studies. 

"Won't  you  please  come  back  again?'"  he  pleaded, 
holding  desperately  on  to  his  hand  as  he  stood  at  the 


!"!i 


22 


"I'c 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


;  i 


lil 


m 


lii 

I  il 


lliii 


roadside  waiting  for  the  coach.  "  Do  please  come  back 
soon,  won't  you?" 

**I  cannot  just  give  you  my  word  on  it,  Donald,  lad- 
die," replied  Mr.  McLeod,  lifting  the  earnest  little  fellow 
up  in  his  strong  arms, "  for  we  are  all  in  the  hands  of 
Providence,  you  know ;  and  ihen,  maybe  I  won't  be  asked 
to  come  back." 

"  No  fear  of  that,"  broke  in  Mr.  Grant,  standing  at 
his  elbow.  "  No  tear  of  that.  We  want  no  better 
teacher  than  vou.  You're  more  than  welcome  to  the 
school  for  as  many  summers  as  you  can  make  it  conve- 
nient to  come  to  us." 

"  Well,  those  are  very  kind  words,  Mr.  Grant,"  said 
Mr.  McLeod,  a  bright  smile  illuminating  his  face ;  *'  and 
it  is  pleasant  to  bear  sue'  away.  I  have  tried  to  do  my 
best  here,  although,"  lowering  his  voice  almost  to  a 
whisper,  "  present  company  excepted,  I  have  had  some 
heart-breaking  material  to  work  on." 

Just  then  the  coach  rolled  into  sight.  There  was  a 
brief  stoppage  to  take  up  the  passenger  and  to  exchange 
mail  bags,  for  Grant,  the  blacksmith,  had  charge  of  a  way 
post  office ;  and  with  a  crack  of  the  whip  and  rattle  of 
trace  chains,  the  teacher  was  carried  away,  while  the  big 
tears  chased  one  another  down  Donald's  plump  cheeks. 

During  the  long  winter,  the  mention  of  Mr.  McLeod's 
name  was  sufficient  to  insure  Donald's  diligent  attention 
to  the  lessons  his  mother  set  him,  and  with  the  opening 
of  spring  he  began  to  look  eagerly  for  the  return  of  his 
friend.    When  a  letter  came  from  him  stating  that  he 


ins: 


DONALD   GRANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


23 


me  back 

laid,  lad- 
;le  fellow 
lands  of 
be  asked 

adiiig  at 
0  better 
le  to  the 
it  conve- 

iiit,"  said 
ce;  "aud 
to  do  my 
ost  to  a 
ad  some 

re  was  a 

exchange 

of  a  way 

;attle  of 

B  the  big 

cheeks. 
^cLeod's 
attention 
opening 
rn  of  his 

that  he 


would  resume  his  teaching  immediately  after  the  closing 
fof  the  university,  Donald  was  as  happy  as  if  a  fortune 
I  had  been  left  him.  At  last,  one  afternoon  late  in  April, 
I  the  coach  on  its  trip  out  from  the  village  carried  a  pas- 
Isenger  for  Rivervale,  and  this  was  none  other  than 
Angus  McLeod  returning  to  his  former  field  of  work. 

The  warmest  of  country  greetings  awaited  him  at  the 
i  home  of  Grant,  the  carpenter,  and  in  a  few  days  the 
f  little  Crossroads  school  was  running  again  just  as  though 
;|  it  had  noi  been  asleep  fr)r  more  than  six  months.    He 

J'  was  glad  to  find  that  neither  Hugh  nor  Donald  had  for- 
gotten in  the  winter  what  they  had  learned  in  the  sum- 
mer,  as  was  the  case  with  the  most  of  their  schoolmates. 
Thanks  to  parental  aj^sistance,  they  had  decidedly  gained 
ground,  and  Mr.  McLeod  felt  so  proud  of  them  that, 
calling  them  up  to  his  desk  one  morning,  he  put  them 
through  a  thorough  examination  to  which  the  whole 
t  school  was  called  upon  to  listen ;  and  then,  in  a  sudden 

I  burst  of  indignation,  cried  out:  "There,  boys  and  girls, 
'  doesn't  that  make  you  ashamed  of  yourselves  ?     You 

might  at  least  have  managed  to  keep  in  your  heads  what 

I I  taught  you  last  summer,  even  though  you  added  noth- 
i  ing  to  it.    But  now,  with  most  of  you,  I  have  to  begin 

I  all  over  again." 

I 

I      There  was  a  new  pupil  from  the  Grant  household  this 

s  summer,  viz :  Charlie,  rejoicing  in  six  full  years.    He  at 

once  proved  himself  a  most  amusing  and  exasperating 

I  scholar.     As  bright  as  a  button,  he  was  also  as  merry  as 

I  u  cricket,  and  seemed  to  believe  that  his  special  mission 


l^fi 


i.:i 


24 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


Illlll 


i;ii 


was  to  set  his  schoolmates  to  giggling.  Had  he  been 
older,  Mr.  McLeod,  of  course,  could  have  taken  stern 
measures  with  him  and  enforced  good  behavior  upon  him ; 
but  he  was  as  tiny  as  he  was  merry,  and  he  had  such  an 
innocent,  babyish  face  liiat  it  was  impossible  to  deal  with 
him  as  he  deserved.  So  he  was  assigned  a  seat  between 
his  two  brothers,  and  they  were  charged  with  keeping 
him  in  order,  which  difficult  feat  they  managed  to  per- 
form fairly  well. 

It  was  a  curiouslv  constituted  little  school,  as  has  been 
already  mentioned.  All  the  pupils  but  the  Grant  boys 
came  from  Roman  Catholic  families,  and  the  majority  of 
them  were  far  more  proficient  in  the  use  of  Gaelic  than 
of  English.  Gaelic  was  the  lansruasje  of  the  fireside ;  and 
although  they  were  all  eager  to  learn  English  because 
they  knew  they  would  otherwise  be  at  a  great  disadvan- 
tage, still,  surrounded  as  they  were  by  others  in  precisely 
the  same  situation,  their  progress  could  not  fail  to  be 
slow.  At  the  school,  their  attempts  to  pronounce  the 
English  words  and  to  answer  questions  in  English  would 
have  been  highly  amusing  had  they  not  been  so  pathetic. 

Not  a  suspicion  of  a  smile  did  Mr,  McLeod  ever  per- 
mit to  flit  over  his  face  as  he  gravely  listened  to  their 
uncouth  utterances.  Their  feelings  we''e  as  sacred  to  him 
as  his  own,  and  if  only  they  would  strive  to  do  their  best, 
he  was  ever  ready  to  give  them  all  the  assistance  they 
could  utilize. 

.   Donald   made  marked  progress  during  this  summer. 
For  such  a  child  his  application  and  industry  were  really 


he  been 

en  stern 

pon  him ; 

such  an 

leal  with 

between 

keeping 

1  to  per- 

has  been 

ant  boys 

jority  of 

3lic  than 

dde ;  and 

because 

lisadvan- 

precisely 

lil  to  be 

unce  the 

would 

pathetic. 

iver  per- 

to  their 

d  to  him 

leir  best, 

nee  they 

summer, 
re  really 


DONALD   GRANT  S    DEVELOPMENT. 


25 


M 


imarked,  and  Mr.  McLeod  felt  more  and  more  confirmed 
lin  his  opinion  that  if  the  little  fellow  did  reach  years  of 
pnaturity,  and  had  anything  like  an  adequate  opportunity, 
^e  would  win  a  place  far  himself  amongst  the  foremost  in 
ihe  land. 

"  I  wish  I  could  see  twenty  years  ahead/'  he  said  to 
Donald,  "just  to  see  where  )  ou  will  be  then.  Perhaps  you 
:|will  be  on  the  high  road  to  fame,  while  I'll  be  an  obsc:  re 
|couutry  clergyman,  buried  in  some  out-of-the-way  place." 
For  still  a  third  summer  season  was  Mr.  McLeod  able 
iko  take  charge  of  the  Rivervale  school.  But  that  had  to 
e  the  last.  His  course  at  the  university  was  completed, 
e  having  graduated  with  very  high  honors ;  and  he  in- 
ended  taking  a  further  course  of  study  at  Edinburgh 
niversity.  So  that  under  any  circumstances,  Rivervale 
ould  not  see  him  asain  for  several  vears.  Before  he 
pefx  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to  Donald,  urging  upon  him  to 
tudy  just  as  hard  under  the  new  teacher  as  he  had  done 
Jbnder  him,  and  promising  that  if  it  were  at  all  possible, 
m^e  would  pay  Rivervale  a  visit  on  his  return  to  Acadia 
ipind  see  how  his  dear  young  fi'iends  there  were  getting  on. 
^  Donald  was  greatly  delighted  at  t!ie  receipt  of  this 
;|etter.  It  was  written  to  him  just  as  if  he  were  grown* 
^p,  and  it  was  all  for  him.  After  it  had  been  read  over 
^o  him  several  times,  he  stowed  it  away  in  his  most  sacred 
Gliding  place  and,  better  than  that,  he  heeded  its  good 
|6ounsels.  Mr.  McLeod's  seed  fell  into  good  ground,  as  in 
iJue  time  he  was  to  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  for 
limself. 


CHAPTER  III. 


I'll  Hi,  ;ii' 


TEACHERS   AND   TEACHERS. 

FOR  the  next  six  years  there  was  a  different  teacher 
each  summer  at  Rivervale,  and  their  qualities 
varied  greatly.  They  were  all  students  at  the  univer- 
sity, doing  as  many  did,  earning  sufficient  to  carry  them 
through  the  winter  by  teaching  during  the  summer ;  and 
they  had  very  diverse  ways  of  looking  upon  their  work. 

To  one  it  was  a  disagreeable  task  undertaken  simply 
for  the  sake  of  the  dollars  it  brought,  and  without  any 
sense  of  duty  toward  those  who  were  to  be  taught ;  so 
many  lessons  a  day  to  be  gotten  through  with,  and  so 
long  as  this  was  accomplished  with  any  pretence  of  ac- 
curacv,  that  was  enouirh. 

Another  was  irritable  and  unreasonable.  He  had  no 
consideration  for  the  difficulties  under  which  the  Gaelic 
scholars  labored,  and  would  even  mimic  their  awkward 
methods  of  pronunciation,  thus  making  himself  intensely 
unpopular  among  them.  Donald  came  into  collision  with 
him  one  day  in  a  manner  that  left  a  deep  sense  of  injury 
upon  his  heart. 

Charlie  had  been  asked  a  question  in  the  geography 
class,  and  had  answered  correctly  enough,  but  in  such  an 
off-hand  wav  that  the  teacher,  who  never  listened  too 
intentlv,  misunderstood  him. 
26 


DONALD  GRANT^S   DEVELOPMENT. 


27 


t  teacher 
qualities 
e  univer- 
rry  them 
mer;  and 
leir  work, 
en  simply 
thout  any 
aught;  so 
h,  and  so 
ice  of  ac- 

e  had  no 
^e  Gaelic 
awkward 
intensely 

lision  witL 
of  injury 

geography 
in  such  an 
tened  too 


"  Wrong ! "  he  snapped  out.    "  Go  down  to  the  foot  I " 

Now  Charlie,  by  some  good  fortune,  had  managed  to 

ret  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  class,  and  he  was  very  loath 

to  lose  his  honorable  position,  especially  when  this  fall 

ras  undeserved ;   so,   raising   his  head,   he  piped  out : 

[**  Please,  sir,  I'm  not  wrong ;  I  said  '  Maine,'  and  that's  the 

lanswer  given  in  the  book." 

You  did  not.    You  said  *  Spain,'  and  you  need  not 
Sthink  to  deceive  me  in  that  way,"  retorted  the  teacher, 

With  trembling  lip  and  tearful  eyes,  Charlie  was  about 

to  leave  his  place,  when  Donald,  whose  seat  was  in  the 

front  row,  and  who  had  distinctly  heard  Charlie  answer 

f*  Maine,"  sprang  up,  and  looking  very  indignant,  cried 

)ut :  "  Charlie  did  say  *  Maine,'  sir.     I  was  right  behind 

lim,  and  I  beard  him." 

"  You  were  right  behind  him,  and  you  prompted  him 

|when  lie  made  a  mistake,"  retorted  the  teacher.     Then, 

turning  upon  Charlie  and  raising  his  ferule,  he  thundered : 

"  Go  down  to  the  foot — do  you  hear  me  ? — or  I'll  make 

J    Charlie  slowly  dragged  himself  down,  while  Donald, 
%n  whom  an  outraged  sense  of  justice  overmastered  all 
-sconsiderations  of  fear,  burst  out  in  a  tone  audible  all  over 
khe  school :  "  That  isn't  fair !  " 

Hardly  were  the  words  uttered  than  the  teacher,  in  a 
assion  of  fury,  sprang  toward  him,  and  seizing  him  by 
is  coat  collar,  dragged  him  roughly  to  the  platform, 
here  he  stood  him  so  that  he  faced  the  whole  school, 


I  >i| 


i  ; 


■V.'' 


hill  i 


28 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


now  trembling  with  terror  and  excitement.  Then  grasp- 
ing the  ferule,  and  holding  it  ready  to  strike,  he  roared 
out  in  a  voice  that  shook  with  rage :  "  Take  that  back, 
you  rascal,  and  beg  my  pardon  before  the  school,  or  I'll 
thrash  you  within  an  inch  of  your  life." 

Now,  there  was  not  a  boy  in  the  school  who  had  the 
courage  of  his  convictions  to  the  same  degree  as  Donald 
Grant ;  and  in  this  case  not  only  was  he  absolutely  con- 
fident of  being  in  the  right,  but  there  was  added  thereto 
a  burning  sense  of  the  injustice  of  the  teacher's  action, 
which  roused  in  him  the  very  highest  spirit  of  resistance. 
He  was  only  twelve  years  old,  and  he  looked  very  help- 
less in  the  hands  of  the  wrathful  teacher,  but  not  a  word 
came  from  between  his  close-shut  lips. 

"  Will  you  take  it  back ?  "  shouted  the  teacher.  " 111 
give  you  one  more  chance." 

Donald  shook  his  head.    He  could  not  open  his  mouth. 

"  Then — take  that !  "  and  the  long,  black  ferule  de- 
scended with  cruel  force  upon  the  boy,  sending  a  shock  of 
agony  throusrh  his  whole  bodv,  and  evoking  a  kind  of 
gasp  of  horror  from  the  scholars  looking  on  with  distended 
eves  and  bated  breath. 

Donald  shrank  under  the  blow,  and  his  face  grew  white 
as  marble.  Raising  the  ferule  on  high,  the  teacher  asked 
again  :  "  Will  you  take  back  what  you  said,  and  beg  my 
pardon  ?  " 

Donald's  colorless  lips  murmured  an  inaudible  "  No." 
and,  reading  his  silence  aright,  the  brutal  teacher  struck 
him  again.   Six  times  did  he  strike  the  unresisting  but  un- 


T. 


7 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


29 


Then  grasp- 
:e,  he  roared 
:e  that  back, 
chool,  or  I'll 

who  had  the 
ee  as  Donald 
solutely  con- 
dded  thereto 
cher's  action, 
of  resistance, 
ed  very  help- 
ut  not  a  word 

facher.     "  I"ll 

)en  his  mouth, 
ck  ferule  de- 
nsr  a  shock  of 
ipr  a  kind  of 
rith  distended 


ce  grew  white 
:eacher  asked 
,  and  bes  niv 

udible  "No." 
eacher  struck 
Bistinir  but  un- 


conquerable boy,  and  then,  his  fury  having  been  spent 
gufficiently  to  allow  a  qualm  of  better  judgment  to  make 
.;! itself  ielt,  he  threw  Donald  from  him,  saying:  "There 
now  !  you  won't  forget  that  lesson  in  a  hurry.     Go  back 
0  your  seat."  . 

Instead  of  going  back  to  his  seat,  Donald,  whose  eyes 
still  showed  no  signs  of  tears,  went  straiglit  down  the 
Mpassage-way  to  the  door,  and  out  into  the  sunlight.  Near 
vby  the  school  was  a  hazel  thicket.  To  this  he  made  his 
\vway,  and  pushing  into  the  heart  of  it,  threw  himself 
^down  upon  a  little  knoll.  Then  the  pent-up  tears  were 
f given  vent,  and  in  sobs  that  shook  his  young  frame  as 
^the  gale  rocks  the  willows,  he  sought  relief  for  the  ming- 
iled  suffering  of  body  and  mind. 

It  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  punished,  and 
although  his  conscience  was  pure  of  wrong,  yet  there  was 
'^he  disgrace,  the  horrid,  though  undeserved,  disgrace,  of 
;^being  beaten  like  a  dog  before  all  his  schoolmates.  To 
his  proud,  sensitive  nature  this  seemed  even  worse  than 
the  actual  bodily  pain,  excruciating  as  that  was.  Oh,  if 
iMr.  McLeod  could  only  have  been  there  to  have  taken 
his  part !  For  he  was  right — Charlie  had  answered 
"  Maine,"  not  "  Spain,''  and  for  him  (Donald)  to  have 
i  stated  anything  else  would  have  been  nothing  short  of 
falsehood. 

When  he  left  the  school,  the  teacher,  who  now  began 
to  wish  he  had  not  been  so  passionate  and  to  feel  some- 
what apprehensive  about  the  consequences,  made  no  at- 
tempt to  recall  him,  but  said,  with  an  uneasy  laugh :  "  A 


m 


\.i 


30 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


good  riddance,  indeed  1  The  fewer  we  have  of  that  sort 
in  this  school  the  better," 

But  he  was  not  to  be  permitted  to  dismiss  the  subject 
so  easily  as  that.  When  the  matter  came  to  Mr.  Grants 
ears,  he  Tvas  exceedingly  indignant — as  well  he  might  be 
— if  for  no  other  cause  than  the  cruel  marks  his  boy 
bore  upon  him.  He  reported  it  to  the  squire,  and  the 
trustees  at  once  instituted  an  investigation,  at  which  the 
testimony  of  the  other  scholars  was  so  overwhelmingly 
corroborative  of  the  statements  of  Donald  and  (Charlie, 
that  when  the  inquiry  was  concluded,  Squire  St'i'^art. 
turning  to  the  teacher,  said  in  a  tone  of  unmi*-^  able 
severity :  "Now,  sir,  after  what  we  have  heard,  there  re- 
mains but  one  course  open  to  us,  namely,  to  request  from 
you  precisely  what  you  sought  to  force  from  Donald ; 
that  is,  a  taking  back  of  your  unjustifiable  language,  and 
an  apology  to  him  for  the  most  undeserved  punishment 
you  inflicted." 

The  foolish  young  fellow,  although  now  fully  convinced 
of  his  error,  stiffiv  refused  to  do  either. 

"Then,  sir,"  replied  the  squire,  in  a  still  severer  tone, 
"you  may  regard  your  engagement  here  as  cancelled." 

The  same  afternoon  the  teacher,  doing  his  best  to 
maintain  an  expression  of  indignant  innocence,  went 
away  in  the  coach ;  and,  as  the  summer  was  almost  over, 
the  trustees  thought  it  best  to  close  the  school  for  tlie 
season. 

The  teacher  next  vear  was  unlike  anv  of  his  prede- 
cessors.    His  idea  of  life  seemed  to  be  to  get  through  it 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


31 


that  sort 

I 
!  subject 

.  Grants 

might  be 

his  boy 

and  the 

^hich  the 

elmingiy 

(Charlie, 

St«^-7art, 

]•-  a   able 

there  re- 

uest  from 

I  Donald ; 

lage,  and 

nishment 

jonvinced 

jrer  tone, 
mcelled." 
best  to 
:ce,  went 
lost  over, 
1  for  the 

is  prede- 
irough  it 


with  as  little  trouble  as  possible.  Fat  and  jovial,  always 
ready  for  a  laugh,  and  apparently  never  out  of  temper, 
he  presented  a  striking  contrast  to  the  teacher  who  had 
treated  Donald  so  brutally.  Had  the  scholars  respected 
him  as  much  as  they  liked  him,  the  school  would,  so  to 
speak,  have  cared  for  itself;  but  they  stood  in  no  awe 
of  him  whatever.  Consequently  the  lessons  were,  for  the 
most  part,  shamefully  neglected*  But  this  did  not  seem 
to  trouble  him  in  the  least.  So  long  as  the  lessons  were 
scrambled  through  in  some  sort  of  fashion,  he  was  content. 

Yet  even  his  indifference  did  not  chill  Donald's  ardor. 
It  puzzled  him  a  good  deal,  and  he  felt  very  sure  that 
the  teacher  was  not  faithfully  discharging  his  duty.  But 
he  kept  right  on  with  his  studies  notwithstanding;  for 
he  had  begun  to  look  forward  to  the  county  academy, 
and  was  determined  to  lose  no  time  in  getting  ready 
for  it. 

The  following  year  there  came  to  Rivervale  a  teacher 
more  like  Mr.  McLeod  in  spirit  than  any  of  the  others. 
He  was  utterly  unlike  Mr.  McLeod  in  appearance,  for 
he  was  small  in  stature,  slight  in  build,  and  delicate  of 
feature.  Indeed,  he  seemed  so  gentle  and  almost  fragile, 
that  Squire  Stewart  wondered  if  he  would  answer  the 
purpose.  There  were  a  good  many  big  boys  at  the 
school  now,  rough,  noisy  young  fellows,  not  unkind  of 
heart,  but  fond  of  horseplay ;  and  the  new  teacher  might 
find  the  task  of  keeping  them  in  order  beyond  his 
powers.  He  said  something  of  the  kind  to  him,  but 
Earnest  Munroe  seemed  not  a  whit  daunted. 


f 


32 


„_» 


DONALD   GRANT  8   DEVELOPMENT. 


"I  thiuk  I  will  be  able  to  manage  them  all  right,  Mr. 
Stewart,"  he  answered,  smiling  defferentially.  "  I  have  had 
some  previous  experience  in  l3aching,  you  know,  and, 
after  all,  boys  are  pretty  much  alike  wherever  you  find 
them." 

There  was  something  in  both  his  tone  and  expression 
as  he  said  this  that  completely  dispelled  the  squire's 
doubts. 

"  He  will  keep  them  in  or'ier,  never  fear,"  he  remarked 
to  Mr.  Grant  afterward. 

"  There  is  something  in  his  eye,  I  cannot  say  just  what 
it  is,  that  shows  he's  not  to  be  made  game  of." 

The  squire  was  right  as  usual  in  his  judgment  of  peo- 
ple. When  the  big  boys  saw  the  new  teacher  first,  they 
said  to  themselves  that  they  would  have  things  pretty 
much  their  own  way  under  his  rule;  but  they  soon 
learned  their  mistake.  Without  once  making  use  of  the 
ferule  or,  indeed,  inflicting  punishment  in  any  form,  Mr. 
Munroe  established  himself  in  complete  command  of  the 
situation.  His  gentle,  yet  firm,  voice  never  failed  to  meet 
with  respectful  heed,  and  under  his  faithful  teaching  the 
scholars  even  began  to  make  up  the  leeway  of  the  previ- 
ous summer. 

Donald  was  at  once  stronglv  attracted  to  Mr.  Munroe, 
and  as  soon  as  the  latter  came  to  know  the  bov,  the 
liking  was  mutual.  Never  since  Mr.  McLeod  had  there 
been  a  teacher  with  so  much  svmpathv  for  the  scholars' 
diffictilties,  with  so  wise  a  way  of  giving  assistance,  and 
yet  letting  the  pupil  do  as  nmch  as  possible  himself. 


:^iiitely  < 

§11  the 

^j)precia 

No  W( 

lis  intei 

iave  ask 

iave  refi 

[unity  of 
kissed. 

(sked  M 
ould  b( 
toman  ( 
2cepted, 

fery  wel 


DONALD  grant's  DKVELOPMENT. 


33 


Fall  of  ambition  as  he  was  to  enter  the  academy  that 

lutumn,  Donald   devoted   himself  to   his  studies  with 

tireless  energy.    He  positively  preferred  them  to  his  play, 

ind  his  health  might  have  suffered  had  not  Mr.  Munroe 

jhosen  him  as  his  companion  in  the  long  walks  he  loved 

io  take  in  the  golden  afternoons.    At  such  times,  putting 

iway  all  talk  about  the  work  of  the  school,  he  held  Don- 

ild  enchanted  while  he  discoursed  upon  the  wonders  and 

)eauties  of  nature,  or  the  achievements  of  science,  or  the 

triumphs  of  literature.    His  brain  was  a  perfect  store- 

louse  of  things  worth  knowing.    He  had  some  knowledge 

)f  botany  and  geology,  and  though  he  was  only  twenty, 

lad  read  and  digested  an  amazing  number  of  books. 

[e  could  quote  passages  of  the  iinest  poetry  in  the  English 

aiiguage ;  and,  best  of  all,  so  far  as  Donald  was  imme- 

liiitely  concerned,  he  took  keen  delight  in  pouring  out 

ill  the  treasures  he  had  acquired  for  the  benefit  of  an 

|i])preciative  and  receptive  mind. 

No  wonder  that  Donald  fairly  worshiped  him.    He  was 

lis  intellectual   hero,  and  there  was  nothing  he  could 

lave  asked  within  his  power  to  do  that  Donald  would 

lave  refused  him.     As  it  chanced,  Donald  had  an  oppor- 

[uuity  of  rendering  him  signal  service  ere  the  summer 

kissed.     At  his  earnest  solicitation,  Mrs.  Grant  had 

sked  Mr.  Munroe  to  their  cottage,  where  indeed   he 

ould  be  much  more  comfortable  than  boarding  among 

loman  Catholics  as  he  was.    The  teacher  had  gladly 

3cepted,  and  his  gentle,  genial  presence  had  proved  a 

[ery  welcome   addition  to   the  family  circle.    It  was 

c 


IH 


<     : 


I 


!  >  -i 


i 


;r^ 


34 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


noticed  that  sometimes  he  seemed  very  tired  after  his 
long  walks,  and  the  keen,  motherly  eye  of  Mrs.  Grant 
was  often  turned  upon  him  with  a  good  deal  of  con- 
cern ;  but  if  anything  was  said  he  always  turned  it  off 
lightlv. 

One  Saturday  afternoon  in  early  autumn,  he  and 
Donald  took  an  unusually  long  walk  far  away  over  the 
hills  into  the  "  back  lands,"  as  they  were  called,  where 
some  flowers  were  to  be  found  that  did  not  grow  else- 
where in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Munroe's  stay  was 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  he  was  anxious  to  make  the  most 
of  the  time  still  at  his  disposal.  The  flowers  were  found, 
and  some  fine  specimens  duly  put  into  press.  It  was  dark 
before  the  two  returned,  and  they  were  both  evidently 
tired  out.  Immediately  after  supper  Mr.  Munroe  went 
to  his  room,  saying  he  thought  he  would  tumble  into  bed 
and  have  a  good  rest. 

It  was  shortly  before  midnight  when  Donald,  sunk  in 
the  deep,  dreamless  sleep  of  an  overwearied  boy,  was 
roused  by  his  fiuher,  who  stood  at  his  bedside  holding  a 
light  in  one  Land  r.nd  shaking  him  with  the  other. 

**  Wake  up,  Ijrnald  ! "  he  called.  "  Wake  up,  my  boy, 
and  get  into  your  clothes  as  quick  as  you  can." 

With  a  tremendous  effort,  Donald  burst  the  bonds  of] 
sleep,  and  then  his  father  told  him  that  Mr.  Munroe  waaj 
very,  very  ill ;  so  ill  that  the  doctor  must  be  gotten  fori 
him  at  once,  and  he,  Donald,  would  have  to  go  into  thej 
village  and  get  him. 

Donald  was  wide  enough  awake  now. 


^•rw,r 


DO>'ALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT, 


35 


"  Is  he  80  ill?  "  he  cried,  impulsively.  "  Can't  I  go  in 
and  see  him  ?  " 

••  No,  Donald,"  said  his  father,  "  your  mother  is  with 
him,  and  there's  not  a  minute  to  be  lost.  As  soon  as  you 
are  dressed,  go  out  and  saddle  Nelson.  When  you  are 
ready,  I'll  give  you  a  note  for  the  doctor." 

Longing  for  at  least  one  look  at  his  beloved  teacher, 
but  knowing  full  well  that  his  father  would  not  hurry 
him  off  without  it  unless  the  emergency  was  very  serious, 
Donald  scrambled  into  his  clothes,  lit  the  lantern,  hast- 
ened to  the  barn,  put  the  saddle  and  bridle  on  Nelson, 
the  big  black  horse,  and  as  he  led  him  up  to  the  door  his 
father  appeared  holding  the  note. 

"  Now,  Donald  dear,  ride  as  fast  as  you  dare.  Every 
minute  is  precious.  It  is  a  dark  night,  but  both  you  and 
Nelson  know  the  road  by  heart.  Good*bye.  God  bless 
you  and  keep  you  safe." 

There  was  a  clatter  of  hoofs  upon  the  stony  road,  fol- 
lowed by  the  repeated  thunder  of  their  strokes  upon  the 
resounding  timber  of  the  bridge,  and  Donald  was  off, 
with  four  miles  of  hard  riding  between  him  and  the 
doctor's  residence.  The  night  was  dark  as  pitch,  the 
liglit  of  the  stars  having  been  blotted  out  by  clouds 
covering  the  face  of  the  skv,  and  he  wiselv  made  no 
attempt  to  guide  the  sagacious  animal  that  bore  him. 
He  simply  kept  the  reins  well  in  hand  in  case  of  a  stum- 
ble, and  let  Nelson  do  the  rest. 

On  up  the  hill  he  dashed  at  a  rapid  canter,  past 
farmhouses  whose  only  sign  of  life  was  the  barking  of 


I 


36 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


watch  dogs  at  the  sound  of  the  hoof-beats ;  past  herds  of 
cattle  rising  like  spectres  out  of  the  fields  at  his  sudden 
and  startling  approach ;  through  dense  patches  of  wood 
where  the  road  seemed  like  a  long  tunnel ;  and  over 
corduroy  bridges  that  rattled  out  their  amazement  at 
being  disturbed  in  the  middle  of  the  night  when  all 
honest  folks  should  be  abed. 

That  midnight  ride  was  a  sharp  test  of  the  boy's  nerve ; 
and  who  can  blame  him  if  his  heart  rose  to  his  mouth  at 
times,  and  he  prayed  for  it  to  be  over?  At  length  the 
eagerly  looked-for  sound  of  Nelson's  hoofs  upon  a  plank 
bridge  told  him  that  he  had  reached  the  outskirts  of  the 
village,  and  a  few  minutes  later  he  ha/  reined  up  his 
panting  steed  before  the  doctor's  door  and  was  plying  the 
knocker  with  trembling  fingers. 

"  If  the  doctor  should  be  away,"  he  thought  with  a 
gasp  of  sharp  anxiety,  as  he  waited  for  reply.  "  He  often 
18  away  all  night.    I've  heard  him  say  so  to  mother." 


A 


Fl 


the  win 

his  nigl 

f    gruff  to] 

!       "  Wh 

"I'm 

prompt ; 

wanted  s 

I      "  Ver] 

doctor,  c 

In  af( 

and  read 

very  seri 

"lam 

to  lose." 

ting  his  t 

"  Have 

On  Doi 

and  hurri 

horses  wit 

"Nowt 

die,  "folic 


fmr\mum 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE   VILLAGE   ACADEMY. 

AFTER  what  seemed  to  Donald,  in  his  agony  of 
anxious  impatience,  an  ine:^cusably  long  interval, 
the  window  of  the  doctor's  bedroom  was  thrown  up,  and 
his  night-capped  head  appeared,  to  inquire  in  a  somewhat 
gruff  tone : 

"  Who  are  you  ?  and  what  do  you  want  ?  " 

"I'm  Grant  the  carpenter's  son  Donald,"  was  the 
prompt  reply ;  "  and  have  a  note  from  father.  You  are 
wanted  ai  once." 

**  Very  well,  I  will  be  down  directly,"  answered  the 
doctor,  closing  the  window. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  opened  ihe  door,  drew  Donald  in, 
and  read  the  note.  As  soon  as  he  did  so  his  face  grew 
very  serious. 

"  I  am  indeed  wanted  at  once.  There  is  not  a  moment 
to  lose."  And  he  began  bustling  about  his  surgery,  get- 
ting his  things  together. 

"  Have  vou  a  wagon  ?  "  he  asked. 

On  Donald  answering  in  the  negative,  he  lit  a  lantern, 
and  hurrying  to  the  barn,  saddled  and  bridled  one  of  hia 
horses  with  the  quickness  of  a  practiced  hand. 

"Now  then,  my  lad,"  he  cried,  springing  into  the  sad- 
dle, "  follow  me  as  best  you  can."    And  with  an  en- 

87 


I   J 


38 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


couraging  chirk  to  the  fine  bay  mare  that  carried  him, 
he  dashed  out  into  the  road  and  headed  for  Rivervale. 

Had  old  Nelson  been  perfectly  fresh,  he  might  have 
held  his  own  with  the  other  horse,  but  he  was  blown  and 
tired  from  the  four  miles'  gallop  in  the  dark,  and  soon 
fell  behind,  until  Donald  could  not  even  hear  the  sound 
of  the  mare's  hoofs  striking  the  hard,  dry  road. 

"  Please,  dear  God,  let  the  doctor  be  in  time,*'  he 
prayed  with  fervent  simplicity. 

When  he  reached  Rivervale,  he  sprang  off  Nelson, 
leaving  the  horse  to  look  out  for  himself,  and  rushed  into 
the  house.  The  first  one  he  met  was  his  mother,  just 
coming  away  from  Mr.  Munroe's  room,  and  he  panted 
out  through  trembling  lips : 

"  Was  the  doctor  in  time,  mother  ?  " 

"Thank  God,  yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Grant,  bending 
down  to  kiss  his  flushed  forehead.  "  And  you  deserve 
all  the  credit  for  it,  my  brave  boy.  Go  and  lie  down 
now.  You  must  be  tired  out.  You  will  be  able  to  isee 
Mr.  Munroe  in  the  morning." 

The  good  news  and  his  mother's  praise  produced  a  re- 
action altogether  beyond  Donald's  control.  He  could 
say  nothing,  but  hurrying  off  to  his  room,  flung  himself 
upon  his  bed  and  burst  into  tears.  A  few  minutes  later 
he  was  sound  asleep. 

In  the  morning  he  was  allowed  to  pay  his  beloved 
teacher  a  short  visit.  He  found  him  extremely  pale  and 
weak, /but  as  serene  as  ever. 

"  God  bless  you,  Donald,"  he  said,  softly,  holding  out 


"¥ 


-•#   stren<rtl 


""*"  •  •"-'TifnnirniiiMi 


DONALD  GKANT'S   DEV£IX)PAIENT. 


39 


his  thin,  white  hand  to  clasp  the  boy's  stout,  ruddy  fist; 
'•  you  did  me  a  service  last  night  I  can  never  repay. 
But  I  will  never  forget  it,  Donald,  and  perhaps  the 
chance  may  come  for  me  to  prove  my  gratitude.  If  ever 
I  can  be  of  any  help  to  you  anywhere,  you  won't  hesitate 
to  let  me  know,  will  you,  Donald  ?  *' 

It  was  a  sudden  and  severe  internal  hemorrhage, 
brought  on  by  over- exertion,  which  had  put  the  teacher's 
life  in  danger,  and  Dr.  Henderson  said  that  had  he.reached 
him  an  hour  later  he  could  not  have  done  him  any  good. 

There  was  no  more  school  at  Rivervale  that  season ; 
but  while  Mr.  Munroe  grew  steadily  stronger  under  Mrs. 
Grant's  motherly  care,  Donald  continued  his  prepara- 
tions for  the  academv,  Mr.  Munroe  acting  as  a  sort  of 
"  coach  "  or  tutor ;  and  many  delightful  hours  did  they 
spend  together  over  the  first  book  of  Euclid,  the  first  part 
of  Cassar's  Commentaries,  and  the  other  studies  that 
would  be  taken  up  at  the  academy.  Indeed,  under  his 
teacher's  inspiring  influence,  Donald  went  beyond  what 
was  actually  required  for  admittance  to  the  academy. 

"Just  so  much  to  the  good,"  Mr.  Munroe  would  say, 
with  one  of  his  winning  smiles.  "  The  better  prepared 
you  are  at  the  start,  the  easier  you  will  find  the  work  all 
through  vour  course." 

The  academy  opened  in  the  latter  part  of  September, 
and  although  Mr.  Munroe  had  sufficiently  recovered  his 
strength  before  then  to  be  able  to  return  home,  he  wanted 
to  see  how  Donald  acquitted  himself  The  purpose  of 
the  preliminary  examination  was  twofold :  first,  to  ascer- 


r 


40 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


1(1 

I 

1 
■1 1 

.iiill 

tain  whether  the  pupil  was  qualified  to  enter  the 
academy ;  second,  to  determine  to  what  rank  or  form  he 
should  be  assigned. 

It  was  held  in  the  head  master's  room.  Together  with 
a  number  of  other  boys,  Donald  presented  himself  one 
Wednesday  morning,  decked  out  in  his  bravest  attire 
which  was  simple  enough,  and  feeling  as  nervous  and 
downcast  as  though  he  were  going  to  his  own  execution. 
He  knew  the  head  master,  Mr.  Patterson,  well  enough 
by  sight,  but  had  never  met  him  in  his  official  capacity 
before ;  and  he  seemed  to  him  little  short  of  appalling  in 
his  black  gown,  which  he  wore  only  on  special  occasions, 
his  bright  eyes  flashing  out  almost  fiercely  through  gold- 
rimmed  spectacles,  and  his  bushy  black  beard  wagging 
in  an  intimidating  manner  as  he  talked. 

The  examination  was  partly  oral,  partly  written,  and 
the  list  of  subjects  embraced  the  rudiments  of  Latin, 
geometry,  algebra;  and  then,  of  course,  the  regular 
English  branches,  grammar,  history,  geography,  arith- 
metic. In  the  oral  part  Donald,  once  his  tongue  got  into 
working  order,  did  very  well.  He  soon  got  used  to  Mr. 
Patterson's  sharp  way  of  questioning  and  answered  very 
satisfactorily.  The  written  part  gave  him  more  trouble. 
He  had  never  tried  anything  of  the  kind  before,  and  his 
nervousness  made  him  at  first  put  down  answers  in  a 
shaky  scrawl  that  was  a  caricature  of  his  ordinary  hand- 
writing, and  that  did  great  injustice  to  his  actual  know- 
ledge. 

Happily,  just  when  his  heart  was  sinking  into  despair, 


WIWirliiiWiiWIIiTilWf 


iltntiiWiii 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


41 


l^-|: 


Mr.  Munroe  entered  the  room.  Ostensibly  he  had  come 
to  say  a  few  words  to  Mr.  Patterson.  Perhaps,  however, 
with  the  subtle  instinct  of  true  friendship,  he  had  divined 
his  pupil's  probable  difficulties.  He  did  not  speak  to 
Donald,  but  he  smiled  cheeringly,  confidently  at  him,  as 
though  to  say : 

"  Do  your  level  best,  Donald.  Be  a  credit  to  me  as 
well  as  to  yourself.    You  can  if  you  will,  you  know." 

That  smile  was  Donald's  salvation.  It  banished  his 
nervousness  and  despondency  as  the  sun  puts  to  flight  the 
morning  mist.  He  returned  it  heartily,  and  then  applied 
himself  to  his  work.  How  different  it  appeared  to  him 
now  I  The  right  answers  seemed  to  be  on  the  paper  right 
beside  the  questions,  and  his  pen  could  hardly  fly  fast 
enough  to  copy  them  out.  Without  looking  to  right  or 
left,  he  scribbled  away  as  for  very  life's  sake,  and  just  as 
the  head  master  announced :  "  Four  o'clock !  Gather  up 
and  hand  in  your  papers,  please,"  he  wrote  the  last  word 
of  his  answer  to  the  last  question. 

It  was  very  evident  that  all  had  not  made  such  progress. 
Some  would  have  liked  very  much  to  be  allowed  another 
hour.  Others,  although  not  by  any  means  content  with 
their  performance,  were  glad  to  be  relieved  from  further 
effort.  One  by  one  the  papers  were  handed  in,  and  then 
Mr.  Patterson  announced  that  the  results  would  be 
declared  on  Friday  morning. 

Out  trooped  the  boys  to  compare  notes  of  the  answers 
they  had  made  to  the  different  questions.  But  Donald 
did  not  linger  with   them.    He  was   impatient  to  find 


\i 


Ifr^ 


42 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


Mr.  Munroe  and  tell  him  how  he  had  succeeded.  He 
soon  encountered  him  on  the  street,  and  hastened  to 
tell  him  what  good  his  cheering  smile  had  done  at  a 
critical  time.    Mr.  Munroe  was  greatly  pleased. 

"I  am  sure  you  have  done  well,  Donald;  very  well 
indeed.  Perhaps,  who  knows,  you  will  carry  off  the  free 
scholarship.    That  would  be  grand,  wouldn't  it  ?  " 

Donald's  eyes  gleamed.  It  would  be  grand  indeed. 
i\ot  ^.ly  because  of  the  honor  of  the  thing,  but  because 
it  would  spare  his  father  all  payments  for  school  fees  and 
texi-ijooko ,  and  this  meant  much  where  dollars  were  not 
in  plenty. 

On  Friday  morning  the  two  drove  into  the  village  to 
learn  the  results  of  the  examinations.  Mr.  Munroe  had 
his  trunk  with  him,  for  he  intended  taking  the  midday 
coach  to  Chebucto.  Donald  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement. 
He  did  not  venture  to  put  his  hopes  strongly  upon  the 
scholarship,  but  if  he  only  did  happen  to  win  it,  what  joy 
for  himself  and  his  family ! 

At  the  academy  door  quite  a  crowd  of  boys  had  already 
gathered.  Some  parents  were  there  too,  all  waiting  im- 
patiently for  the  announcements  to  be  made.  Presently 
the  janitor  opened  the  doors  and  called  out  that  they 
should  go  into  the  head  master's  room.  In  they  poured, 
somewhat  noisily,  and  took  their  seats.  When  the  room 
was  quiet,  Mr.  Patterson  proceeded  to  read  in  alphabetical 
orde^  the  names  of  those  who  had  succeeded  in  passing, 
and  the  name  of  Donald  Grant  duly  appeared  in  its 
place.    He  next  indicated  the  forms  to  which  the  success- 


DONALD  GRANT'a  DEVKLOPMENT. 


esently 
at  they 
joured, 
le  room 
betical 
passing, 
I  in  its 
success*  I 


ful  candidates  would  be  assigned,  and  when  Donald  waa 
placed  in  a  more  advanced  form  than  any  of  the  others 
Mr.  Munroe  gave  him  an  affectionate  grip  on  the  arm, 
whispering : 

"  That  looks  well  for  the  scholarship,  Donald." 

Tlien  there  came  a  dead  silence,  during  which  Donald 
could  hear  his  heart  beat.  The  head  master  always 
made  the  most  of  an  important  announcement.  He 
never  hurried  about  it.  At  last  he  was  ready,  and  after 
peering  into  the  faces  of  the  boys  before  him  as  if  trying 
to  recognize  one  of  them,  he  cleared  his  throat,  and  in 
his  most  imposing  manner  said : 

"  I  have  much  pleasure  in  announcing  that  the  schol- 
arship annually  offered  by  the  trustees  of  this  academy 
has,  at  this  examination,  been  won  by  Donald  Grant, 
whose  answers,  both  oral  and  written,  were  highly  credit- 
able ;  in  fact,  quite  above  the  ordinary  standard.  If 
Donald  Grant  is  present,  will  he  please  come  up  to  ray 
desk?" 

Blushing  furiously,  Donald  somewhat  awkwardly  made 
his  way  to  the  desk,  amid  a  faint  round  of  applause  that 
almost  at  once  died  away  into  a  murmur  of  surprise  and 
buzz  of  curious  questioning.  Who  was  this  stranger 
who  had  thus  intruded  and  carried  off  the  coveted  honor? 
Some  were  able  to  answer :  "  Oh,  he's  one  of  Grant  the 
carpenter's  boys,  from  out  Rivervale  way,"  whereupon 
there  was  a  scornful  sniflSng  of  the  air,  and  a  passage  of 
supposed-to-be-witty  remarks  upon  his  appearance  and 
clothing.    Poor  Donald  certainly  had  made  an  ill  be- 


j 


Hi 


44 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


ginning  if  he  wished  to  be  popular  at  the  academy.  He 
should  have  been  content  with  third  or  fourth  place  at 
the  best.  The  carrying  away  of  the  scholarship  by  a 
youngster  from  a  crossroads'  school  was  an  impertinence 
not  to  be  endured  in  silence.  They  would  manifest  their 
disapprobation  at  the  first  opportunity. 

But  Donald  bad  no  suspicion  of  this  as  he  stood  be- 
fore the  head  master  awaiting  his  pleasure.  Rising  from 
his  seat,  Mr.  Patterson,  with  the  gracious  condescension 
of  a  royal  potentate,  extended  his  hand  and  shook 
Donald's  gravely. 

**  I  am  glad  to  welcome  so  promising  a  pupil  to  the 
academy,"  he  said.  "  You  have  only  to  show  the  same 
diligence  and  thoroughness  in  continuing  your  studies 
that  you  did  in  preparing  for  this  examination,  in  order 
to  become  an  honor  to  the  institution.  Here  is  your 
certificate  entitlini?  vou  to  tuition  and  text-books  free. 
On  Monday  morning  you  will,  with  the  others,  be  as- 
signed to  vour  classes." 

As  the  gathering  was  dispersing,  one  or  two  of  the 
smaller  boys  came  up  to  give  Donald  a  look  of  hesitat- 
ing admiration,  and  a  couple  of  the  older  folk  said  some- 
thing congratulatory ;  but  he  hurried  off  with  Mr.  Mun- 
roe,  whose  coach  would  soon  be  starting. 

"  This  was  well  worth  waiting  for,"  said  the  teacher. 
"  You  have-  done  even  better  than  the  best  I  hoped  for 
you " 

"  All  thanks  to  you,  sir,"  broke  in  Donald,  giving  the 
other's  hand  a  grateful  hug. 


DONALD   GRAJs'T^S   DEVELOPMENT. 


45 


"  Oh,  no,  Donald,  not  all,  by  any  means !  Of  course,  I 
helped.  Well,  I  want  to  say  this  while  I  have  the  chance. 
Your  new  associates  will  not  like  you  any  the  better 
for  running  off  with  the  scholarship,  or  for  being  put 
into  the  third  form  at  the  start.  They  will  no  doubt 
try  to  make  it  a  little  uncomfortable  for  you  for  a  while. 
Now  you  must  be  very  patient.  If  you  lose  your  tem- 
per, they  will  gain  the  very  point  they  want  to  make. 
Above  all  things,  never  complain  to  any  of  the  masters, 
no  matter  how  much  you  may  be  tormented.  That  is  a 
false  step.  One  word  more.  Make  yourself  popular 
with  the  masters.  Not  by  playing  courtier,  of  course, 
but  simply  by  doing  exactly  what  they  direct,  even 
though  they  may  seem  unreasonable  or  even  in  error. 
It  never  pays,  Donald,  to  undertake  to  bring  a  master 
to  book.  They  are  supposed  to  be  omniscient,  you 
know,''  Mr.  Munroe  added,  with  a  quaint  smile,  "  and  it 
is  no  doubt  in  the  interest  of  school  discipline  that  the 
supposition  should  not  be  rudely  disturbed." 

Presently  the  coach  rattled  up  to  the  hotel  door.  Mr. 
Munroe  got  into  tlie  box  seat,  and  with  a  cheery  "  Good- 
bye, Donald,  lad,  and  God  bless  you,  I  will  write  you  a 
letter  some  day,*'  started  on  his  homeward  journey, 
while  Donald  followed  the  coach  with  misty  eyes  until 
it  rolled  around  the  turn  of  the  street  and  disappeared. 

Then  he  bethought  himself  of  the  dear  ones  out  at 
I  River  vale  still  in  ignorance  of  his  success,  and  he  hastened 
to  harness  up  Nelson  and  to  make  as  good  time  as  possible 
homewarJ. 


\    ■ 


it 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


What  a  happy  household  that  was  when  he  burst  in 
upon  them  with  the  news  1  His  mother  clasped  him  again 
and  again  in  her  arms,  murmuring:  "My  dear,  good 
boy  I  My  noble  boy  I  A  proud  woman  this  day  is  the 
one  that  gave  you  birth." 

Here  was  the  first  delicious  taste  of  gratified  ambition. 
The  myriad  worries  and  disappointments  that  beset  her 
were  for  the  nonce  swept  out  of  her  life,  and  she  gave  her- 
self up  to  the  unrestrained  enjoyment  of  the  honor 
Donald  had  brought  to  the  family. 

As  soon  as  he  could  get  the  boy  out  of  his  mother's 
arms,  Mr.  Grant  hurried  over  to  the  squire  with  him. 
There  were  several  people  in  the  shop,  but  the  proud 
father  did  not  mind  them,  and  dragging  Donald  forward, 
cried  out :  "  Squire,  Donald's  won  the  academy  scholar- 
ship!" • 

The  squire  looked  up  from  his  books  in  some  surprise 
at  this  sudden  interruption,  and  then,  at  once  taking  in 
the  situation,  broke  into  a  hearty  smile  that  lighted  up 
his  whole  countenance. 

"Eh!  you  don't  tell  me?  Won  the  scholarship! 
Good — very  good.  You  are  a  credit  to  Rivervale,  Donald. 
Come  here,  my  lad." 

When  Donald  approached,  he  patted  him  kindly  on 
the  head,  saying:  "Must  be  good  stuff  inside  here,  eh, 
laddie  ?  Take  this  with  the  squire's  blessing,  and  may 
luck  be  with  you." 

Diving  into  his  deep  trousers'  pocket  he  produced  an 
English  sovereign,  and  putting  it  into  the  centre  of  the 


i.-r„> 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


47 


bov's  right  palm,  closed  hia  fingers  tightly  over  it,  saying 
in  an  undertone :  "  You  will  be  needing  some  things  to 
fit  vou  out.  Spend  that,  and  if  it  ia  not  enough  let  me 
know,  and  you  shall  have  another." 

Truly  this  waa  a  wonderful  day  for  Donald — the  like 
of  which  it,  was  hardly  possible  he  would  have  in  his  life 
again.  Not  a  cloud  dulled  the  hopeful  horizon.  He  had 
begun  to  realize  his  ambitions  under  the  most  promising 
auspices.  Providence  had  smiled  upon  him  hitherto. 
That  it  might  continue  to  do  so  waa  the  earnest  prayer  of 
his  fond  mother  when  she  came  to  take  one  last  look  at 
him  before  retiring  for  the  night. 


h  i 


nl!l 


CHAPTER  V. 


MAKING   HIS   WAY. 


TO  be  a  regular  attendant  at  the  Beechraount  Academy 
was  no  slight  undertaking  for  Donald  Grant.  It 
meant  eight  miles  of  travel  every  day  in  the  v  ^ek  except 
Saturday  and  Sunday,  and  for  this  travel  he  hr,d  nothing 
to  depend  upon  save  his  own  legs.  He  might  of  course, 
get  an  occasional  ride,  but  there  was  no  certa  nty  about 
it,  and  in  calculating  the  time  it  would  take  1  'n  to  reach 
the  academy  in  the  morning,  he  would  not  fe  in  re- 

lying upon  any  such  possible  aid;  for  he  iright  have  to 
foot  it  all  the  way  notwithstanding,  and  late-coiv'* .?.  were 
severely  frowned  upon. 

To  be  sure,  on  a  fine,  bright,  autumn  day  a  tramp  of 
four  miles  was  nothing  to  alarm  such  a  sturdy,  enduring 
young  chap  as  Donald ;  but  autumn  days  were  sometimes 
rainy,  and  then  there  was  the  winter  ahead. 

It  was  not  Donald  who  thought  of  this.  His  head  was 
too  full  of  happiness  to  worry  about  such  things.  It  was 
the  quiet,  thoughtful,  affectionate  Hugh  who,  on  the  Sun- 
day before  his  brother  began  his  attendance,  as  they  were 
all  driving  in  to  church,  began  to  ask  anxious  questions 
about  it.  He  had  a  foreboding  nature,  and  did  not  like 
the  idea  of  Donald  tramping  those  eight  long  miles  every 

day,  rain  or  shine. 
48 


'•  Ti 

little  { 
four-ni 
know.' 
"Mf 
shakinj 
more  ti 
the  viii 
Hugl 
home  ir 
really  e 
make, 
i  taken  to 
Mr.  G 

-..^.  "'0] 

I  bridge  i 
[conceriK 

lacadeniv 

(almost 

|The  rest 
As  the 
md  mot 
^liich  wa 

liuct  rust 
?semblec 

Joy  who 
Donald 


a 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


49 


[imp  of 
during 
aetimes 

iad  was 
It  was 

le  Sun- 
ley  were 
estions 
ot  like 
iS  every 


But  Donald  made  very  light  of  the  difficulties  Hugh 
suggested. 

" Tut,  Hughie,'  he  laughed,  " you  talk  as  if  I  were  a 
little  chap  like  Bob  or  Harry.  What  do  I  care  for  a 
four-mile  tramp?  and  then  I  will  often  get  a  lift,  you 
know." 

"Maybe you  will,  sometimes,  Donald,"  answered  Hugh, 
shaking  his  head  doubtfully ;  "  but  there  will  be  many 
more  times  that  you'll  have  to  walk.  I  wish  we  lived  in 
the  village.    We  are  so  far  away." 

Hugh  had  a  great  longing  for  the  larger  society  a 

home  in  Beechmount  would  have  made  possible,  and  he 

really  envied  Donald  the  daily  visits  he  would  henceforth 

make.    It  made  him  for  the  time  regret  that  he  had 

i  taken  to  business  instead  of  books. 

Mr.  Grant,  who  had  been  a  silent  listener  to  the  con- 

,...  *'on,  here  broke  in :  "  Never  attempt  to  cross  a 
I  bridge  until  you  come  to  it,  Hugh.  Time  enongh  to  be 
concerned  about  Donald  getting  in  and  out  from  the 
lacademv  when  the  difficulties  occur.  Well,  here  we  are, 
lalmost  at  the  church.  Hugh,  you  put  the  horses  up. 
JThe  rest  of  us  will  go  in  and  take  our  seats." 

As  the  little  procession  of  Grants,  headed  by  the  father 
uid  mother,  filed  up  the  narrow  aisle  to  their  pew — 
?iiich  was  to  the  right  of  the  pulpit — there  was  a  dis- 
tinct rustle  of  curiosity  among  the  congregation  already 
issembled ;  for  all  were  eager  to  get  a  good  look  at  the 
)ov  who  had  carried  off  the  scholarship. 

Donald  could  not  fail  to  be  conscious  of  the  concen- 

D 


irr* 


50 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT, 


tration  of  curious  eyes  upon  him,  and,  blushing  hotly,  he 
pretended  to  be  deeply  absorbed  in  a  study  of  the  hymn 
book  until  the  announcement  of  the  opening  hymn  by 
the  pastor  gave  him  relief. 

After  the  service  was  over,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  were 
in  receipt  of  a  number  of  congratulations  from  their 
friends  upon  their  boy's  success,  and  Donald  was  patted 
approvingly  upon  the  head  by  sundry  old  gentlemen, 
and  upon  his  red  cheeks  by  various  ladies,  both  young 
and  old,  all  in  token  of  their  gratification  at  his  achieve- 
ment. 

That  was  a  Sundav  long  to  be  remembered ;  and  manv 
a  time  in  after  years  did  its  recollection  bring  a  ray  of 
sunshine  for  Mrs.  Grant,  the  fond,  proud  mother,  into 
hours  darkened  with  trouble  and  sorrow. 

The  next  morning  at  sharp  half  past  seven,  Donald 
set  blithely  forth  to  reach  the  Beechmou.nt  Academy  ere 
the  last  bell  should  commence  rinofing:.  It  was  clear 
and  cool,  and  his  cheerv  whistle  could  be  heard  long  after 
he  had  crossed  the  bridge  and  was  climbing  the  hill  be- 
yond. His  mother  stood  at  the  door  and  watched  hira 
uniii  he  was  out  of  sight. 

"  God  1 "  ss  thee,  and  keep  thee,  Donald,"  she  mur- 
mured. Jly  heart  tells  me  that  you  are  to  be  the  stay  i 
and  comfort  of  ray  old  age.  May  no  evil  befall  thee  nor  | 
harm  come  nigh  thee,  as  you  go  through  the  journey  of  j 
life  I  You  have  a  brave  heart  and  a  strong  heart,  and, 
best  of  all,  a  pure  heart.  Oh,  how  I  love  you! "  And! 
dashing  away  a  tear,  she  went  back  to  her  work. 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


51 


Donald  plodded  steadily  forward  mile  after  mile,  for, 
as  it  happened,  no  carriage  or  cart  overtook  him.  The 
nearer  he  drew  to  the  village,  the  graver  grew  his  spirit. 
The  merry  whistling  ceased,  and  he  advanced  in  silence ; 
for,  naturally  enough,  the  thought  of  the  ordeal  before 
him  made  him  pause.  How  would  he  be  received  by  his 
new  companions  ?  He  was  not  on  terms  of  anything 
like  intimacy  with  one  of  them,  although  he  knew  sev- 
eral of  them  slightly — the  doctor's  son  and  one  or  two 
others.  He  could,  therefore,  look  to  no  one  for  sympa- 
thy and  support. 

The  first  note  of  the  last  bell  rang  out  just  as  he 
reached  the  academy  door,  and  hardly  glancing  at  the 
group  of  boys  dawdling  about  the  steps,  he  hurried  in- 
side, where  he  found  Mr.  Patterson  standing  in  the  main 
hall,  a  roll  of  names  in  his  hand,  and  directing  the 
scholars  where  to  go  as  fast  as  they  entered.  He  recog- 
nized Donald  at  once. 

"  Ah,  ha !  "  he  said,  smiling  graciously.  "  You  are  the 
winner  of  the  scholarship.  You  go  into  Mr.  Gunton's 
room."  And  with  a  wave  of  the  roll  he  indicated  the 
room  at  his  right. 

Donald  somewhat  timidly  made  his  way  to  the  room. 
A  number  of  boys  had  already  gathered,  and  all  at  once 
turned  their  eyes  upon  him  with  the  pitiless  stare  of 
young  barbarians.  No  one  offered  him  a  seat,  and  pre- 
sently, as  the  painful  awkwardness  of  his  position  shov/ed 
itself  in  the  distress  of  his  countenance,  some  began  to 
laugh  and  others  to  make  faces  at  him.     A  baud  of 


i.  ii 


1 !'  ' 

1': 

52 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


school  boys  can  be  as  cruel  as  any  of  the  savages  of  Cen 
tral  Africa. 

Just  then  the  master,  who  had  been  bending  over  his 
record  book,  lifted  his  head  and  discovered  Donald.  He 
was  an  Englishman,  named  Gunton — a  competent  scholar, 
but  without  special  talent  for  teaching.  I"  iiaught  only 
because  no  better  occupation  offered  itself.  He  was 
young,  fair,  precise,  and  wore  eyeglasses,  then  somewhat 
of  a  novelty.  Adjusting  these  to  his  nose,  he  proceeded 
to  increase  poor  Donald's  embarrassment  by  surveying 
him  as  curiously  as  though  he  were  some  odd  kind  of 
animal.  Finally  he  managed  to  say  in  a  decided  drawl: 
"  Ah,  a  new  scholar,  I  presume.  Will  you  please  come 
forward  ?  "  ' 

Feeling  more  like  whirling  around  and  bolting  for  the 
door,  Donald  went  up  to  the  desk. 

"  May  I  ask  your  name  ?  "  inquired  the  teacher,  in  the 
same  monotonous  drawl. 

"  Donald  Grant,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"  Ah,  indeed !  "  said  Mr.  Gunton,  with  a  sudden  access 
of  interest.  "  The  boy  that  won  the  scholarship  ;  and 
you  have  come  into  my  room  at  the  start  ?  Quite  unusual, 
that.  You  must  have  been  well  prepared.  I  hope  your 
work  here  will  bear  out  the  reputation  with  which  you 
begin.    Please  take  a  seat  on  the  first  row  for  the  present." 

Donald  went  to  his  seat  in  a  much  lighter  frame  of 
mind  t|jan  tliat  in  which  he  had  entered  the  room.  The 
change  in  his  teacher's  tone  and  manner  on  hearing  his 
name  gave  him  courage.     If  Mr.  Gunton  would  only  be 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT, 


53 


your 

you 

fceiit." 

me  of 

The 

g  his 

ily  be 


good  to  him,  he  could  the  more  easily  wait  until  the  boys 
came  around  and  admitted  him  into  their  friendship. 

At  sharp  nine  o'clock  ^he  door  was  locked,  and  Mr. 
Gunton  read  a  prayer  in  the  most  formal  manner  possible, 
concluding  with  the  Lord's  prayer,  which  the  boys  were 
expected  to  repeat  after  him.  Not  more  than  half  of 
thera  ever  did  so,  however. 

Of  course,  there  were  no  lessons  to  be  recited  that 
morning,  so  the  time  was  taken  up  in  re-arranging  the 
classes,  Mr.  Gunton  having  two  forms  in  his  room, — the 
third  and  fourth, — in  designating  the  work  for  the  next 
dav,  and  otherwise  clearing  the  decks  for  action. 

The  head  master  came  in  during  the  morning  to  see 
how  matters  were  progressing.  He  also  brought  a  com- 
plete set  of  text-books  for  Donald,  in  each  of  which  the 
boy's  name  was  duly  inscribed.  Donald  had  never 
owned  so  manv  books  before  in  his  life,  and  was  almost 
bewildered  at  his  sudden  wealth ;  a  Cpesar,  a  Latin 
dictionary,  a  grammar,  an  algebra,  a  Euclid,  an  arith- 
metic, an  English  history,  etc.,  and  three  good,  big,  exer- 
cise books  in  which  to  enter  his  work.  In  their  spotless, 
shining  covers  they  seemed  to  the  delighted  lad  the  most 
wonderful  collection  of  books  in  the  world. 

Some  of  the  other  boys  gave  him  very  envious,  covetous 
looks  as  he  joyfully  fondled  his  new  possessions.  Their 
fathers  had  to  pay  for  all  the  books  they  used,  and  here 
was  a  youngster  from  out  in  the  country  somewhere, 
getting  a  fine  supply  all  for  nothing.  It  did  seem  galling 
to  their  minds  distorted   by  jealousy,  and,  whispering 


WW   "  -" 


54 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


ilHIiii 


Ulii 


iiinMMi 


i     IP' 
111  i       'I 


l|!li';:^ 


together,  they  made  up  a  nice  little  plot,  viz. :  to  waylay 
unsuspecting  Donald  at  recess,  and  josile  him  so  that  he 
would  drop  some  of  his  brand  new  books,  when  they  would 
pick  them  up  and  run  off  with  them,  compelling  him  to 
go  in  chase,  and  thus  affording  them  lots  of  amusement. 

Happily,  however,  this  fell  conspiracy  was  quite  inno- 
cently brought  to  naught  by  Mr.  Gunton.  When  the 
boys  were  dismissed,  Donald  was  detained  getting  his 
books  into  a  pile  that  would  be  easily  carried,  and  thus 
it  came  about  that  he  and  the  teacher  left  the  room 
together.  As  luck  would  have  it  too,  the  latter  entered 
into  conversation  with  him,  and  the  two  walked  down  the 
street,  while  the  disappointed  conspirators,  seeing  tlieir 
plans  thus  frustrated,  went  off  in  a  very  disgusted  frame 
of  mind. 

It  was  out  of  the  question  for  Donald  to  carry  that 
large  package  of  books  home  if  he  had  to  walk  all  the 
way.  But  here  again  fortune  favored  him,  for  in  front 
of  one  the  stores  he  found  the  wagon  of  a  farmer  living 
a  little  beyond  Rivervale,  and  on  inquiry  learned  that 
the  owner  was  going  home  soon  and  would  be  glad  to 
have  his  company.  So  he  had  a  pleasant  drive  home, 
and  arrived  there  in  high  spirits,  eager  to  exhibit  his 
treasures  to  his  admiring  family. 

The  next  morning  his  work  at  the  academy  began  in 
earnest.  He  arrived  in  good  time,  having  had  a  lift 
part  of  the  way,  and  instead  of  going  at  once  into  the 
schoolroom,  waited  about  the  door  hoping  to  begin  an 
acquaintance  with  some  of  the  boys. 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


55 


But  no  one  made  any  overtures  to  him,  and  such 
slight  advances  as  he  ventured  to  make  were  so  coolly,  if 
not  rudely,  received  that,  much  disheartened,  he  went  to 
his  desk  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  master.  He  could 
not  understand  why  the  boys  should  treat  him  so  strangely. 
It  could  not  be  because  he  did  not  belong  to  the  village, 
for  he  knew  that  at  least  a  score  of  the  academy  boys 
came  in  like  himself  from  the  country  every  morning. 
He  racked  his  brain  to  think  of  anything  he  could  pos- 
sibly have  done  to  give  offense,  and  there  flashed  into  his 
mind  the  question,  was  it  his  winning  the  scholarship  ? 
Surely  not  I  They  could  not  be  so  mean  and  jealous  as 
that.  Yet  what  other  explanation  was  there  ?  The  ring- 
ing of  the  last  bell  and  the  tumultuous  rush  of  the  boys 
to  their  places  cut  short  his  cogitations.  Prayers  were 
read  and  the  work  of  the  day  begun. 

It  usually  takes  a  couple  of  days  for  the  scholars  to 
settle  down  to  their  studies  after  the  long  midsummer  va- 
cation ;  and  this  morning  very  few  were  properly  pre- 
pared, although  the  lessons  had  been  duly  apportioned 
the  day  before.  Donald,  however,  had  studied  his  les- 
sons thoroughly,  and  the  consequence  was  that,  from  his 
place  as  new  boy  at  the  foot  of  his  classes,  he  suddenly 
rose  to  be  head  in  one,  third  in  another,  and  halfway  to 
the  top  in  a  third. 

Here  was  an  adding  of  fresh  fu  A  to  the  flame  with  a 
vengeance.  A  new  boy  to  get  :  rom  the  foot  clean  to 
the  head  of  the  class  in  Latin  grammar  in  one  day,  and 
all  because  he  was  prig  enough  to  begin  to  study  right  off*, 


i  My 


Hi 


I      'J 


4  •  I 


56 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


m 

■  /i 

■  J 

III 

1 

1 

:            i 

i 

i  M  i  II 

1  il 

1  'ill 

1 

[  i  \\\       W 

1 

lili 


lillili 


ill!! 

11  ■ 


instead  of  taking  a  couple  of  days  to  settle  down  as  the 
other  boys  had  done.  Clearly,  Donald's  road  to  popu- 
larity in  that  schoolroom  was  to  be  a  rough  and  thorny 
one.  The  boys  seemed  to  be  completely  blinded  by  jeal- 
ousy to  all  instincts  of  justice  and  fair  play.  They 
thought  the  new  boy  had  taken  a  mean  advantage  of 
them,  when  a  moment's  calm  consideration  would  have 
shown  them  how  absurd  was  the  suspicion.  But  who 
can  be  more  unreasonable  or  unjust  than  boys  on  the 
wrong  track  ?  They  were  all  on  the  wrong  track,  and 
until  their  eyes  should  be  opened,  there  was  small  chance 
of  Donald  getting  fair  consideration  at  their  hands. 

When  the  midday  recess  came,  he  went  out  with  the 
others.  Some  of  them  jostled  him  rather  roughly  in  the 
hall,  he  thought,  but  it  might  have  been  an  accident,  and 
he  took  no  notice  of  it.  On  the  green  outside  a  number 
of  his  classmates,  with  others,  were  gathered,  and  aa 
he  passed  near  them  they  broke  out  into  hissing  and 
cries  of  "  Sneak  I "  "  Toady  !  "  "  Rivervale  rowdy !  "  and 
so  forth. 

There  was  no  mistaking  for  whom  this  was  intended. 
The  hot  blood  sprang  to  Donald's  face.  Every  nerve 
thrilled  with  anger  and  indignation.  Almost  uncon- 
sciously his  fists  clos'jd  tightly.  His  heart  was  beating 
like  a  trip  hammer  within  his  breast. 

Drawing  himself  up  and  liolding  his  shut  fists  close  to 
his  sides,  he  suddenly  turned  upofi  his  tormentors,  who 
quailed'  a  little  before  his  menacing  attitude,  and  de- 
manded in  a  tone  of  wrathful  indi^rnation : 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


67 


.,sa* 


"  Why  do  you  call  me  such  names  ?    What  have  I 

done?" 

Not  expecting  to  be  thus  suddenly  brought  to  book, 
the  boys  were  thrown  into  some  confusion,  and  for  a 
moment  no  spokesman  appeared  to  answer  for  them. 
Then  some  one  from  the  depths  of  the  group  called  out 
in  a  hesitating  way,  "  You  won  the  scholarship." 

"  And  what  if  I  did  ? "  retorted  Donald,  still  main- 
taining his  ready-to-strike  attitude.  "Didn't  I  win  it 
fair?" 

There  was  a  sort  of  confused  murmur  which  might  be 
taken  to  imply,  "Suppose  you  did,"  and  then  another 
boy  added,  "  But  you  don't  belong  to  the  village." 

"  What  if  I  don't,"  was  the  prompt  reply.  "  That  was 
no  reason  why  I  shouldn't  try  for  the  scholarship,  was 
it?" 

Again  he  had  scored  a  point.  There  was  no  answering 
his  question,  and  his  accusers  were  driven  to  bring  up 
their  last  charge :  , 

"  You  took  advantage  of  the  others  to-day." 

"  How  did  I  take  advantage  ? "  cried  Donald,  with  a 
touch  of  scorn  in  his  voice.  "  They  did  not  know  their 
lessons  and  I  did  know  mine.  Was  there  anything  wrong 
about  that?" 

Donald  was  fast  gaining  the  day ;  his  gallant  bearing, 
his  prompt  and  reasonable  retorts,  his  evident  indifference 
to  the  numbers  arrayed  against  him,  all  told  in  his  favor. 
The  tide  of  feeling  was  fast  veering  around,  when  one  of 
the  older  boys,  who  felt  particularly  envious  of  him,  and 


in 


)      i 


t  ■>1 
'I 


i'    >    ' 


f 


58 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


il! 


"!!!i:!' 


who  saw  that  he  was  gaining  ground,  growled  out  in  a 
sulky,  obstinate  tone : 

"  You're  a  sneak  and  a  coward,  anyway." 
This  was  more  than  Donald  could  stand.  Like  a  flash, 
he  darted  at  the  speaker,  caught  him  by  the  shoulder, 
and  shaking  his  fist  in  his  face  was  about  to  cry,  "  Take 
that  back  or  I'll  beat  you  black  and  blue,"  when  suddenly 
the  voice  of  the  Principal  fell  upon  the  excited  croivd 
and  settled  it  like  magic. 

"  Boys  I  boys  I "  he  said.  "  What  is  the  meaning  of 
this?  Fighting  already,  Donald  Grant?"  This  last 
question  in  a  tone  of  mingled  surprise  and  disappoint- 
ment. 


Gii:;-; 


mm 


CHAPTER  VI. 


A  WORTHY  VICTORY. 


WHEN  the  sound  of  Mr.  Patterson's  voice  fell  on  his 
ears,  Donald  instantly  loosened  his  hold  of  the 
boy  who  had  so  stirred  his  wrath,  the  flush  of  anger  on 
bis  cheek  changed  to  one  of  shame,  and,  turning  to  the 
head  master,  he  said,  with  eyes  bent  upon  the  ground : 
"  I  lost  ray  temper,  sir.  I  wasn't  going  to  fight  him,  but 
to  make  him  take  back  the  names  he  called  me.  I  am 
very  sorry,  sir." 

"  Ah,  ha  I "  exclaimed  the  head  master,  his  eyes  snap- 
ping sharply  behind  his  spectacles.  '*  There  are  always 
two  sides  to  a  story,  and  I  must  hear  both  of  them  before 
I  make  up  my  mind  who  is  to  blame.  Will  all  of  you 
boys  be  good  enough  to  come  to  my  room  ?  " 

With  very  crestfallen  and  somewhat  apprehensive 
countenances,  the  boys  followed  Mr.  Patterson  into  his 
room.  As  soon  as  they  were  all  seated,  he  called  up 
Donald  and  asked  him  to  tell  his  part  in  the  aflair. 
There  was  a  murmur  of  anxiety  as  Donald  rose  to  his 
feet.  Now  was  his  chance  to  revenge  himself  finely  upon 
his  tormentors.  If  he  were  to  relate  everything  that  had 
occurred,  they  would  be  put  in  an  awkward  box  indeed ; 
I  and  the  result  would  probably  be  the  imposition  of  very 
unpleasant  penalties.    But  to  the  surprise  and  vast  relief 

69 


1      i 


.;•   I 


r 


^w 


60 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


of  them  all,  when  Donald  opened  his  mouth  it  was  to 
say:  "If  you  please,  sir,  I'd  rather  not  tell  anything 
about  it.  Please  excuse  me,  won't  you,  sir  ?  "  And  there 
was  quite  a  plaintive  tone  in  his  voice  as  he  made  the 
request. 

Mr.  Patterson  seemed  slightly  annoyed  for  a  moment, 
and  was  just  about  to  address  a  further  question  to 
Donald,  when  he  checked  himself.  He  wa»  a  shrewd 
man,  and  had  divined  the  boy's  nature.  Naturally 
enough,  he  shrank  from  being  placed  in  the  position  of 
an  informer.  Even  on  the  lowest  ground — that  of  mere 
policy — it  was  to  be  avoided,  if  possible,  for  who  is  held 
in  greater  contempt  among  boys  than  a  telltale  ?  So  Mr. 
Patterson  simply  said :  "  Very  well,  Donald ;  I  will  not 
compel  you,'*  and  waved  him  to  his  seat. 

Then  he  looked  around  among  the  boys,  who  were 
wondering  what  the  next  turn  in  affairs  would  be,  until 
his  eyes  fell  upon  a  little  chap  who,  although  not  lacking 
in  sense,  was  somehow  a  sort  of  butt  for  the  others,  and 
he  called  out :  "  Louis  Smith,  come  to  my  desk,  please." 

Looking  very  much  perturbed,  Louis  crawled  slowly 
to  the  desk,  and  then  Mr.  Patterson  required  of  him  an 
account  of  the  disturbance.  Glad  to  get  off  so  easily, 
Louis  at  once  launched  off  into  particulars,  and  gave 
them  with  commendable  accuracy  too,  taking  care  not 
to  individualize,  but  describing  fairly  enough  what  had 
been  Donald's  provocation  and  how  he  had  met  it. 

WHen  he  had  finished,  the  head  master  turned  to 
Donald.      "  Has    Louis    stated    accurately  what  took 


''1 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


61 


place  ? "   he  asked,  "  or  is  there  anything  you  wish  to 

add?" 

*'  Nothing  at  all,  sir,"  answered  Donald. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  silent  for  a  few  moments  as  though 
considering  just  how  to  express  himself,  and  then  he 
spoke :  "  Scholars,  I  feel  bound  to  tell  you  that  I  am 
surprised  and  sorry  at  the  way  in  which  you  have  acted 
toward  a  new  boy,  whom  you  should  have  considered  all 
the  more  because  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  most  of  you 
and  did  not  belong  to  the  village.  I  also  feel  bound  to 
sav  that,  in  view  of  the  circumstances,  I  think  Donald 
Grant  behaved  very  well  indeed.  He  showed  no  temper 
until  you  had  provoked  him  beyond  endurance,  and  now 
I  want  to  ask  you  this ;  After  what  has  taken  place,  do 
any  of  you  still  think  Donald  Grant  is  a  sneak  and  a 
coward?"  ^    •"      :         -   >■  'i  •  > 

Here  Mr.  Patterson  paused,  and  at  once  there  was  a 
hearty  chorus  of  "  No,  sir ;  no,  indeed,  sir,"  which  broke 
out  into  a  laugh  when  some  boy  far  back  in  the  rear 
added,  "  He's  a  brick,  sir." 

Mr.  Patterson  looked   pleased.    There   was  evident 

sincerity  in  the  boys'  response.     Donald  Grant  had,  by 

his  manly  conduct,  overcome  their  baseless   prejudice 

against  himself,  and  made  a  good  start  toward  winning 

their  hearts.     He  would  not  spoil  this  happy  issue  by 

imposing  any  penalties,  so,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  he  went 

jonto  say:    "I  am  sure  Donald  will  now  consider  that 

I  you  have  taken  all  your  ugly  names  back,  and  that  you 

j  are  sorry  for  having  used  them.    Let  this  be  the  end  of 


f  ! 


62 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  matter.  Let  Donald  be  one  of  yourselves,  and  you 
will  get  along  well  together.  You  are  dismissed  now  for 
the  remainder  of  recess." 

Immensely  relieved  at  this  unexpected  but  most  wel- 
come termination  of  the  episode,  the  boys  rushed  out  of 
the  room  cheering  for  both  the  head  master  and  Donald; 
and  when  the  latter  reached  the  playground  he  was  at 
once  surrounded,  and  overwhelmed  with  invitations  to 
join  in  the  games  that  were  promptly  organized.  He 
soon  showed  himself  quick  to  learn  and  agile  in  playing, 
80  that  ere  the  day  was  out  his  schoolmates  came  to  the 
opinion  that  the  "  Rivervale  Rowdy  "  would,  in  a  little 
while,  be  a  match  for  any  of  them  at  their  sports. 

Thenceforth  Donald's  way  at  the  academy  was  smooth 
enough  so  far  as  his  relations  with  the  other  boys  were 
concerned.  Of  course,  he  had  his  disputes  and  differ- 
ences such  as  boys  will  have.  His  temper  was  quick, 
his  will  strong,  he  loved  his  own  way,  and  was  just  as 
prone  to  think  it  the  very  best  way  as  the  most  of  us  are 
in  regard  to  our  own.  But  these  little  matters  did  not 
prevent  him  from  being  thoroughly  popular.  Full-sized 
for  his  age,  well-built,  quite  good-look ''nof.  arin^  ,n  spirit, 
fertile  of  expedient,  intensely  fond  a  in  everv  form, 

a  strong  swimmer,  a  swift  runner,  h  i,  if  need  be,  a,  hard 
liitter,  Donald,  by  natural  process  of  election,  soon 
became  a  recognized  leader ;  and  many  a  village  boy 
went  without  his  dinner  in  order  that  he  might  be  in 
Donald's  train  during  the  long  noon  recess,  and  enjoy  the 
sport  that  was  sure  to  be  had  in  one  way  or  another. 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


63 


Nor  did  he  suffer  his  fondness  for  play — now  capable 
of  being  indulged  to  a  greater  extent  than  ever  before— 
to  interfere  with  his  studies.  Despite  Mr.  Gunton's 
glasses  and  rather  repellent  drawl,  Donald  in  a  little 
while  came  to  respect  him  highly,  and  even  like  him. 
He  was  a  sound  scholar,  and  if  approached  in  the  right 
way,  willing  enough  to  place  his  stores  of  knowledge  at 
an  inquirer's  disposal. 

Donald  did  i)ot  at  first  discover  this  right  way,  but 
later  he  came  to  understand  just  how  to  touch  the  right 
spring,  and  after  that  he  and  his  teacher  got  along 
famously.  Several  times  during  the  winter  Mr.  Gunton 
drove  out  to  Donald's  home  and  took  tea  with  the  familv ; 
and  so  sure  as  he  did,  the  audacious  Charlie  mimicked  his 
drawl  for  days  afterward,  to  the  amusement  of  his  younger 
brothers. 

The  winter  proved  a  very  severe  one  indeed.  Great 
quantities  of  snow  fell,  burying  the  fences  that  outlined 
the  road,  and  making  it  no  easy  task  to  keep  the  right 
track  after  sundown.  Hugh's  forebodings  of  difficulty 
began  to  find  fulfillment.  Some  days  there  were,  indeed, 
when  it  would  have  been  madness  for  a  strong  man  to 
have  attempted  to  make  his  way  into  Beechmount  from 
Rivervale,  and  Donald  had  perforce  to  remain  at  home. 
But  if  the  weather  were  at  all  moderate,  mounted  upon 
sagacious  old  Nelson,  who  would  otherwise  have  been 
eating  his  head  off  in  the  stable  for  lack  of  work,  Donald, 
wrapped  up  as  warmly  as  a  loving  mother  could  wrap 
him,  his  books  strapped  on  his  back,  and  a  bag  of  oats 


\m 


64 


k-rr.> 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


for  Nelson  at  the  Baddle-bo',v,  would  trot  off  through  the 
biting  cold,  and  never  draw  rein  until  he  reached  the 
academy.  Here  Nelson  was  snugly  housed  in  Mr.  Pat- 
terson's stable,  and  Donald,  glowing  with  heat  from  his 
active  exercise,  would  hurry  to  his  place  in  the  classroom. 

One  afternoon,  never  to  be  forgotten,  he  had  a  narrow 
escape  from  perishing  in  the  snowdrifts.  The  morning 
was  dull  and  threatening,  but  the  snow  held  off  until  long 
past  noon,  and  then  began  to  fall  in  a  fitful,  undecided 
way,  as  though  it  could  not  make  up  its  mind  whether  to 
come  down  vi  a  real  storm  or  not. 

Mr.  Patterson  urged  Donald  not  to  go  home,  but  to 
remain  over  night  with  him.  Donald,  however,  feared 
lest  his  mother  would  worry  if  he  did  not  return  at  the 
usual  time,  and,  thanking  the  head  master,  rode  off  into 
the  gathering  storm.  He  had  hardly  left  the  village  a 
mile  behind  before  the  snow,  now  fully  decided,  came 
down  in  sheets  of  white  that  fairly  blotted  out  the  land- 
scape. Fortunately  the  road  was  well  beaten,  and  Nelson 
had  no  difficulty  in  finding  his  way;  yet  the  incessant 
beating  of  the  large,  heavy  flakes  into  the  eyes  of  both 
horse  and  rider  was  very  bewildering,  and  if  the  track 
should  become  obscure  their  situation  would  be  indeed 
serious. 

Pressing  forward  as  fast  as  he  could,  Donald  presently 
reached  the  shelter  of  the  woods,  and  here  for  a  time  had 
some  ^respite  from  the  storm,  the  thick  spruce  grove  shel 
tering  him  from  the  wind,  and  there  being  no  chance  of 
missing  the  way.  • 


[esently 

Ime  had 

re  shel 

ince  of 


■  ,1 


.*<i 


! 


'4a^- 


I   ; 


'*'*■•.    '    •• 


Donald  Grant. 


PajreCS. 


fC^ 


•  '*ia.-*n%^-»^4 


DONALD  GRAKT's  DEVELOPMENT. 


65 


It  was  when  he  came  out  again  on  the  other  side  of 
the  woods,  and  stood  upon  the  top  of  the  hill  looking 
down  into  the  valley  where  Rivervale  lay  nestling 
amongst  the  skirts  of  the  opposite  slope,  that  he  realized 
his  danger.  The  storm,  now  at  its  heigiit,  struck  full  in 
his  face,  leaving  its  load  of  damp,  tenacious  snow  that 
clings  to  the  eyelids,  and  that  covered  his  face  as  fast  as 
it  could  be  brushed  away.  Even  steady,  sure-footed  old 
Nelson  seemed  frightened  and  unwilling  to  face  the  piti- 
less blast.  He  would  fain  have  turned  about  and  gone 
back  to  the  shelter  of  the  woods.  But  Donald  knew 
better  than  to  permit  that.  There  was  only  one  course 
to  pursue — namely,  to  press  forward  until  he  reached  one 
of  the  farmhouses,  of  which  there  were  several  between 
him  and  the  bridge. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  Donald  could  have 
found  his  way  right  enough  in  spite  of  the  storm ;  but 
this  winter,  so  heavy  had  the  drifts  been,  that  the  farmers, 
in  despair,  gave  up  keeping  the  regular  road  open,  and 
made  a  new  road  across  the  fields,  which  wound  hither 
and  thither  in  a  most  perplexing  manner.  Nelson 
seemed  to  be  entirely  at  fault,  although  Donald  left  him 
altogether  to  the  exercise  of  his  own  sagacity.  The  pelt- 
ing snow  not  only  blinded  him,  but  made  him  sulky. 
He  stumbled  sullenly  along  until,  at  last,  down  he  went 
on  both  knees,  pitching  his  rider  clear  over  his  head. 

Fortunately,  Donald  held  on  to  the  reins  in  his  tum- 
ble, or  the  wily  old  horse  would  probably  have  bolted 
back  to  the  woods.     As  it  was,  when  he  picked  himself 


r  M 


m  i 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


up,  not  a  whit  worse  for  his  somersault  into  the  soft  snow, 
Nelson  would  not  suffer  him  to  remount,  and  after  sev- 
eral vain  attempts  he  had  to  give  up  the  idea. 

This  was  a  serious  addition  to  the  difficulties  of  his 
situation.  Tlie  snow  lay  soft  and  deep,  rendering  the 
walking  very  exhausting ;  and  besides,  he  could  not  see 
as  far  on  foot  as  he  could  from  Nelson's  back.  Halting 
for  a  minute,  he  put  up  a  brief  and  earnest  petition  for 
Divine  help.  The  words,  "  Thy  hand  shall  lead  me,  and 
thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me,"  often  used  by  his  father 
at  family  prayer,  came  into  his  mind  and  comforted  him 
greatly.  Slipping  the  bridle  over  his  left  arm,  he  re- 
newed his  battle  with  the  storm. 

Stumbling  about  in  the  yielding  snow,  he  presently 
struck  what  he  felt  sure  was  the  right  track,  and  fol- 
lowed it  up  persistently  until  at  last  the  grateful  gleam 
of  a  light  shot  through  the  mist  of  flying  flakes,  and 
with  a  cry  of  joy  he  hastened  toward  it,  dragging  the 
ungrateful  Nelson  after  him.  Several  times  he  lost  hia 
beacon  light,  and  feared  lest  it  had  been  put  out;  but  it 
was  only  a  snowdrift  intervening,  and  a  few  moments 
after  it  gladdened  his  eyes  again. 

Weary  almost  to  faintness,  he  pressed  steadily  forward. 
The  cheery  rays  brightened  as  he  advanced.  Then  the 
dark  shadow  of  the  house  in  whose  window  it  stood  be- 
gan to  loom  up  through  the  obscurity.  Summoning  all 
his  energies  for  a  final  effort,  Donald  dashed  through 
the  sriow  straight  for  the  house,  and  dropped  at  the  door, 
too  utterlv  exhausted  to  raise  the  knocker. 


Bu 

for  h 
prom] 
seeino 

"C( 

Christ 

Don 

warm, 

as  he  c 

cried : 

"  Wl 

lad,  wh 

as  this? 

down  in 

you  get 

Dona 

ready  to 

safe  hav 

iugs  whi 

a  hot  dri 

cific  for 

ments. 

''  Here 
"drink  t 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


67 


But  a  few  minutes  rest  restored  his  strength  sufficiently 
for  him  to  make  his  presence  known.  The  door  was 
promptly  opened  by  the  good  woman  of  the  house  who, 
seeing  a  snow-clad  figure,  exclaimed,  in  a  hearty  tone ; 

"  Come  in,  till  I  see  who  you  are.  It's  no  night  for  a 
Christian  to  be  out,  anyway.'* 

Donald,  dropping  the  bridle,  at  once  stepped  into  the 
warm,  cheery  kitchen,  brushing  the  snow  from  his  face 
as  he  did  so ;  and  Jlrs.  McKenzie,  then  recognizing  him, 
cried : 

"  Why,  it's  Donald  Grant,  to  be  sure.  You  foolish 
lad,  whatever  possessed  you  to  come  out  in  such  a  storm 
as  this?  It's  a  mercy  you  got  to  our  house  at  all.  Sit 
down  in  this  rocking  chair  and  tell  me  all  about  it  when 
you  get  rested  a  bit." 

Donald  sank  into  the  comfortable  chair,  feeling  almost 
ready  to  cry  with  joy  and  gratitude  at  having  reached  a 
safe  haven.  But  he  managed  to  get  control  of  his  feel- 
ings while  good  Mrs.  McKenzie  bustled  about  preparing 
a  hot  drink  of  black  currant  cordial,  her  supreme  spe- 
cific for  cold,  weariness,  and  other  light  bodily  ail- 
ments. 

"Here,  Donald,"  she  said,  when  she  had  it  ready, 
"  drink  this  down  and  see  how  good  you'll  feel." 

The  hot,  sweet  drink  was  like  nectar  to  Donald,  and 
when  he  had  emptied  the  glass,  his  tongue  began  to  wag 
at  once  as  he  explained  to  his  hostess  how  he  happened 
to  be  out  in  the  storm. 

"  Well,  now,"  said  she,  clapping  him  on  the  shoulder. 


■Mr-  ir- 


if 


68 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


"  Bovs  and  men  are  all  alike  the  world  over.  For  fear 
your  mother  would  worry  at  your  not  getting  home  to- 
night, you  run  the  risk  of  never  getting  home  at  all, 
which  would  be  a  sad  worry  indeed.  Not  one  step 
farther  do  you  go  this  night,  Donald.  Angus  will  put 
the  horse  in  the  barn,  and  you  shall  have  the  spare 
room.  Then  in  the  morning,  if  the  storm  is  over,  you 
can  get  away  home  as  faat  as  you  like." 

Donald  thanked  Mrs.  McKenzie,  and  did  just  as  be 
was  bidden,  much  to  her  satisfaction.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  awoke  with  the  sun.  The  storm  had  all  passed 
away.  The  day  was  bright  and  clear.  So  eager  was  he 
to  reach  home  that  he  would  have  gone  off  without  his 
breakfast ;  but  of  this  Mrs.  McKenzie  would  not  hear. 
After  breakfast,  bidding  "  good-bye "  to  his  hospitable 
entertainer,  he  spared  not  Nelson,  deep  as  the  snow  was, 
and  ere  long  rode  up  to  the  door  of  the  white  cottage, 
wliich  was  instantly  flung  open  by  Mrs.  Grant,  exclaim- 
ing joyously : 

"My  darling  Donald!  Where  were  you  all  night? 
Were  you  out  in  the  storm  ?  " 

"  If  I  had  been,  mother  dear,  I  am  afraid  I  would 
not  be  here,"  answered  Donald,  laughing  as  he  dis- 
mounted. "I  spent  the  night  at  Mrs.  McKenzie's." 
And  giving  his  mother  a  hearty  kiss,  he  went  into  the 
house  with  her  to  relate  the  adventures  of  the  nisrht. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


FROM  SCHOLAR  TO  TEACHER. 

THE  beginning  of  Donald's  second  year  at  the  Beech- 
mount  Academy  found  him  in  the  head  master's 
room,  and  well  on  his  way  to  the  sixth  form — in  fact, 
certain  to  be  promoted  into  it  after  the  Christmas  vaca- 
tion. His  progress  under  Mr.  Gunton  had  been  swift, 
yet  steady.  There  was  no  need,  nor  indeed  was  there 
any  suspicion,  of  favoritism.  His  classmates  recognized 
his  superiority  as  fully  as  did  the  teacher.  When  natural 
abilities  of  the  quality  he  possessed  were  united  with  an 
ambition  and  a  steadfast  energy  such  as  were  his  charac- 
teristics, the  result  could  only  be  a  record  of  more  than 
ordinary  brilliancy.  Donald  really  had  not  a  competi- 
tor iu  the  classroom  who  could  meet  him  on  equal  terms. 
At  the  midsummer  closing  he  carried  off  every  prize 
within  his  reach.  It  is  true,  the  prizes  were  only  books 
of  moderate  value.  But  how  can  the  delight  they  gave  to 
bim  and  his  family  be  described  ? 

On  taking  his  place  in  Mr.  Patterson's  room,  however, 
lie  was  not  slow  in  finding  out  that  his  case  would  no 
longer  be  one  of  "  Eclipse  first  and  the  rest  nowhere." 
Now  he  would  have  the  cream  of  the  academy  as  his 
associates,  and  the  head  master  tolerated  no  "  scamp 
work  "  in  his  room.    He  did  not  expect  all  to  do  equally 


i;l 


70 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


well,  but  he  did  expect  and  insist  upon  it  that  all  should 
do  their  best.  If  they  were  only  one-talent  boys,  he  did 
not  demand  the  same  from  them  as  the  len-talent  boys ; 
but  he  held  them  down  to  a  faithful  use  of  their  one 
talent.  The  consequence  was  that  the  lessons  were  always 
well  prepared,  and  Donald  discovered  that  making  his 
way  up  toward  the  head  in  his  different  classes  would  be 
a  much  more  tedious  business  than  it  had  been  in  Mr. 
Gunton's  room. 

But  this  did  not  trouble  his  spirit  a  particle.  On  the 
contrary,  he  was  glad  of  it.  The  keen  competition  in- 
Bpired  him  to  even  greater  diligence  in  his  studies.  He 
was  determined  to  maintain  the  record  he  had  established 
for  himself,  if  it  could  be  done ;  and  so  close  was  his 
attention  to  his  books,  that  his  health  would  have  suffered 
but  for  the  long  journey  in  the  open  air  that  lay  between 
his  home  and  the  academy.  This  now  proved  a  real 
blessing,  compelling  him  to  take  the  exercise  he  might 
otherwise  have  neglected. 

He  had  not  been  long  in  Mr.  Patterson's  room  before 
he  came  to  be  on  quite  as  good  terms  with  him  as  he  had 
been  with  Mr.  Gunton.  Despite  his  apparently  brusque, 
impatient  manner,  the  head  master  was  always  glad  to  be 
questioned  about  the  subjects  of  study,  provided  the 
questioner  put  inquiries  that  were  not  seeking  for  the 
solution  of  the  difficulties  he  should  have  solved  himself, 
but  an  intelligent  demand  for  further  light  upon  matters 
that  were  not  sufficiently  clear.  Often  after  the  classes 
were  dismissed  for  the  day,  Donald  would  linger  for  a 


DONALD  grant's  DEVKLOPMENT. 


n 


while  to  talk  over  some  difficulty  with  the  head  master, 
and  he  always  found  him  ready  to  listen  and  prompt  to 
respond.  He  had  told  Mr.  Patterson  of  his  great  ambi- 
tion, viz. :  to  take  a  complete  course  at  Chebucto  Uni- 
versity ;  and  this  fact  deepened  his  teacher's  interest  in 
him.  He  felt  sure  that  if  he  did  go  to  the  university  he 
would  reflect  honor  upon  the  academy,  and  he  was  re- 
solved to  help  him  in  preparation  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
opportunity. 

Thus  matters  progressed  smoothly  and  satisfactorily. 
Donald  continued  to  be  popular  among  his  classmates, 
aud  to  be  a  recognized  leader  in  their  sports  as  well  as 
iu  their  studies.  As  the  end  of  the  term  drew  near,  a 
hvelier  interest  than  usual  was  felt  among  the  academy 
boys  with  reference  to  the  prizes.  Donald  was  certainly 
not  going  to  have  it  all  his  own  way  this  time.  In  the 
sixth  form,  there  were  more  than  one  who  might  fairly 
he  considered  his  match.  Arthur  Henderson,  the  doc- 
tor's son,  was  a  very  bright  hd,  somewhat  inclined  to 
carelessness,  but  now  stirred  up  to  his  best  endeavors. 
Sam  Hill,  the  son  of  the  postmaster,  though  not  so  quick 
aa  Arthur,  made  up  in  plodding  patience  what  he  lacked 
in  mental  alertness,  and  he  too  had  resolved  that  what- 
ever victories  Donald  won  he  would  have  to  put  forth 
his  verv  best  endeavors  to  secure. 

Of  course,  the  three  bovs  made  no  boast  of  their  re- 
spective  resolutions,  yet  somehow  or  other  their  class- 
mates were  as  fully  aware  of  them  as  if  they  had,  and 
almost  unconsciously  divided  themselves  into  three  par- 


V 


72 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


ties,  according  as  they  put  their  faith  in  Artlmr,  Sam,  or 
Donald.  Had  the  deplorable  mania,  for  betting,  now  so 
prevalent,  then  infected  Beechmount  with  its  demoralizing 
contagion,  the  boys  would  assuredly  have  been  wagering 
their  entire  personal  possessions  on  behalf  of  their  favor- 
ites. But  happily  they  knew  nothing  of  that  miserable 
way  of  supporting  opinions,  and  contented  themselves 
with  good-humored  reiteration  of  their  belief  that  Don- 
ald, Arthur,  or  Sam,  as  the  case  might  be,  would  not 
give  the  other  two  a  ghost  of  a  show,  but  would  just 
clean  out  the  prize  list. 

The  final  examinations  for  the  sixth  form  were  always 
wholly  written.  It  was  in  the  lovely,  leafy  month  of 
June  when  they  were  held,  and  the  interest  in  the  respec- 
tive standing  of  the  three  leaders  was  so  intense  that 
some  of  the  boys  were  actually  as  much  excited  about  it 
as  they  were  about  their  own  standing. 

It  took  two  days  to  get  through  the  papers  which  were 
set.  Donald  felt  a  little  nervous  at  first,  and  the  answers 
came  slowly  to  his  mind  ;  but  presently  the  sight  of  the 
two  competitors  he  feared  the  most  scribbling  away  as  if 
for  dear  life  banished  his  nervousness,  and  spurred  on 
his  mind  to  its  highest  working  power.  His  pen  went 
flying  over  the  paper  at  a  rate  that  showed  he  knew  well 
what  to  reply  to  the  printed  questions  on  the  sheet  be- 
fore him. 

After  the  examinations  were  over,  several  days  must 
elapse  before  the  results  could  be  declared.  Those  days 
Donald  spent  at  home,  thoroughly  enjoying  the  relief 


DONALD  GRANT  8   DEVELOPMENT. 


73 


from  study,  and  romping  about  with  Charlie  and  "Boban- 
harry  "  in  as  lively  ^  fashion  as  if  he  were  no  more  of  a 
bookworm  than  rattle-brained  Charlie  himself.  His 
brothers  were  delighted  to  have  him  in  this  humor,  for 
since  the  Christmas  holidays  he  had  had  no  time  to  spare 
to  play  with  them.  Now  he  was  entirely  at  their  dis- 
posal, and  they  enjoyed  his  society  all  the  more  for  hav- 
ing been  so  long  deprived  of  it. 

Ou  Thursday  morning,  June  29,  the  results  were  to  be 
announced,  and  the  following  morning  the  closing  exer- 
cises were  to  be  held,  when  the  prizes  would  be  presented. 

It  was  with  a  fiercely  throbbing  heart  that  Donald, 
mounted  upon  Nelson, — for  his  impatience  could  not 
brook  the  slow  method  of  walking, — hastened  toward  the 
village  that  Thursday  morning.  The  day  was  gloriously 
fine,  but  he  had  no  eyes  for  the  beauties  of  nature  nor 
ears  for  the  music  of  birds.  His  one  absorbing  thought 
was,  "  How  have  I  come  out  ?  Have  I  won  any  prize 
at  all?" 

On  reaching  the  academy,  he  sprang  from  Nelson  and 
rushed  to  the  board  on  which  the  announcements  were 
posted.  It  was  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  boys,  through 
whom  he  impatiently  pushed  his  way.  The  results  were 
up — Henderson,  Hill,  and  himself  had  passed  all  their  ex- 
aminations so  well  as  to  be  placed  together  in  the  highest 
rank.  But  how  about  the  prizes  ?  Were  they  not  to  be 
awarded  ?  Ah  1  here  at  the  bottom  of  the  list  was  a  foot- 
note which  said  that,  owing  to  the  very  slight  difference 
in  merit  between  the  papers  of  the  three  leading  compe- 


74 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


titors,  a  further  consideration  of  them  would  be  neces- 
sary ;  and  the  winners  of  the  prizes,  therefore,  could  not 
be  announced  until  the  following  morning. 

Donald  felt  both  disappointed  and  relieved.  He  v'ould 
have  to  endure  the  agony  of  suspense  for  another  twenty- 
four  L;>urs,  but  at  the  same  time  it  wa?  clear  that  he  and 
the  other  two  were  so  close  together  that  his  chance  was 
as  good  ap  theirs,  at  any  rate.  Back  home  he  rode,  and 
strove  to  forget  his  anxiety  by  indulging  in  the  wildest 
kind  of  skylarking  with  his  younger  brothers  that  he 
could  invent;  and  then  went  to  bed  so  tired  out  that, 
prizes  or  no  prizes,  he  slept  like  one  who  had  not  a  care 
in  the  world. 

The  next  morning,  bright  and  early,  the  Sunday  car- 
riage was  brought  out,  the  two  hor«es  harnessed  to  it,  and 
the  entire  Grant  family,  decked  out  in  their  very  best 
attire,  drove  in  to  witness  the  closing  exercises,  and,  as 
they  all  greatly  hoped,  the  triumph  of  their  darling 
Donald. 

The  proceedings  were  held  in  the  town  hall,  and  the 
Grants  being  in  good  time  secured  some  of  the  best  seats, 
in  which  they  established  themselves,  looking  radiant, 
expectant,  hopeful.  The  large  hall  was  soon  filled  to  the 
doors  with  an  interested,  eager  audience.  The  academy 
boys  occupied  a  block  of  seats  right  in  front  of  the  plat- 
form, and  presently  upon  the  platform  came  the  head 
master  and  his  assistants,  the  trustees  of  the  academy, 
the  ministers,  the  magistrates,  the  doctors,  the  lawyers, 
the  postmaster,  and  other  dignitaries  of  the  plac^ ;  for 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


75 


the  closing  exercises  of  Beechmount  Academy  were 
always  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  important  events  on 
the  village  calendar. 

After  certain  preliminaries,  the  head  master  rose  amid 
breathless  attention,  to  declare  the  results  of  the  recent 
examinations.  First  he  went  through  the  list  of  promo- 
tions from  lower  to  higher  forms,  then  the  list  of  those 
who  had,  so  to  speak,  graduated  from  the  academy,  and 
then  came  to  the  prize  list.  There  was  not  a  person  in 
the  hall  unaware  of  the  special  interest  attaching  to  this 
hst  on  this  occasion,  and  the  silence  was  profound  as, 
after  a  preliminary  cough  and  careful  adjustment  of  his 
spectacles,  he  began  to  speak. 

Having  referred  to  the  unusual  circumstances  in  con- 
nection with  the  examination,  and  the  difficultv  of  accu- 
rately  adjusting  the  values  of  the  answers  given  in  by  the 
three  pupils  who  were  ahead  of  all  the  others,  Mr.  Pat- 
terson proceeded  to  state  that  after  an  impartial  re- 
valuation, made  with  the  assistance  of  tii-^  other  two  mas- 
ters, the  following  conclusion  had  been  arrived  at : 

The  prize  in  classics  went  to  Donald  Grant,  the  prize 
in  mathematics  to  Arthur  Henderson,  and  the  prize  in 
English  to  Samuel  Hill. 

With  regard  to  the  silver  medal  for  highest  general 
proficiency,  that  also  went  to  Donald  Grant,  who  had  five 
more  points  than  Arthur  Henderson,  who,  in  his  turn,  had 
only  three  more  points  than  Samuel  Hill.  The  compe- 
tition, therefore,  was  extremely  close,  and  reflected  the 
utmost  credit  upon  all  three  contestants. 


76 


DONALD  GKAJsT's  DEVELOPMENT. 


Tremendous  rounds  of  applause  greeted  each  announce- 
ment as  it  fell  from  the  head  master's  lips,  and  at  the 
close  each  of  the  prize  winners  became  the  centre  of  a 
group  of  friends  showering  upon  them  their  enthusiastic 
congratulations,  so  that  it  was  some  time  before  order 
could  be  sufficiently  restored  to  enable  the  reading  of  the 
prize  list  to  be  corjpleted. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  results  of  the  close  competition  in 
the  sixth  form  gave  general  satisfaction.  Arthur  Hen- 
derson, who  had  never  won  a  prize  before,  was  well 
satisfied  with  coming  out  first  in  mathematics;  quiet, 
plodding  Sam  Hill  had  not  hoped  for  better  fortune  than 
befell  him,  and  if  Donald  had  any  qualms  of  disappoint- 
ment at  winning  only  one  prize,  he  was  more  than  consoled 
by  the  medal  for  general  proficiency,  the  highest  honor  of 
ail. 

It  was  a  very  happy  family  party  that  returned  to 
Rivervale  in  the  big  express  wagon.  The  pride  of  the 
household  had  fully  sustained  his  reputation,  and  when 
in  the  evening  not  only  Grant,  the  blacksmith,  but 
actually  the  old  squire  himself,  came  over  to  ofier  his 
hearty  congratulations,  the  cup  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant's 
happiness  seemed  full  to  overflowing ;  and  there  was  an 
unusual  fervor  in  the  former's  voice  at  family  prayer  as 
he  returned  thanks  to  God  for  the  joys  and  triumphs  of 
the  day. 

Long  after  all  the  other  members  of  the  family  were 
in  their  bqds,  Donald  and  his  father  sat  talking  together 
upon  the  doorstep.    The  subject  of  theii'  conversation 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


77 


re 


was,  of  course,  the  boy's  future,  and  the  moonlight  falling 
upon  his  face  revealed  a  dejected,  irritated  expression 
that  seemed  strangely  at  variance  with  the  bright,  happy 
look  of  but  a  little  while  before. 

The  change  was  not  without  good  cause,  and  Donald 
could  hardly  be  blamed  if  the  expression  of  his  counte- 
nance was  altered ;  for  he  had  just  learned  from  his 
father  a  fact  of  which  he  had  hitherto  been  in  entire 
ignorance — that  it  would  be  impossible  for  Mr.  Grant  to 
send  him  to  the  university  that  autumn  as  had  been  the 
father's  full  intention  and  the  son's  confident  expectation. 
The  reason  was  readily  given.  Mr.  Grant  had  become 
security  for  a  brother  in  another  part  of  the  Province. 
The  brother's  business  had  proved  a  disastrous  failure, 
and  it  would  require  every  dollar  that  Mr.  Grant  could 
get  together  to  discharge  the  liability  arising  out  of  his 
obligation. 

"  But,  father,"  broke  out  Donald  impetuously,  upon 
having  this  explained  to  him,  "  why  must  you  pay  all  ? 
Why  don't  they  make  Uncle  Joe  pay  some  too  ?  " 

"  Because,  my  dear  Donald,"  replied  Mr.  Grant,  with  a 
Slid  smile,  "  Uncle  Joe  has  nothing  to  pay.  He  is  utterly 
ruined." 

Donald  gave  a  shrug  of  disgust.  "  1  don't  care,  father ; 
it  is  not  fair,"  he  cried,  "  to  make  you  pay  so  much 
raonev.  You  did  not  lose  the  monev,  Uncle  Joe  did. 
Ob,  why  did  you  ever  go  security  for  him  ?  "  he  added, 
with  a  sigh  of  profound  regret. 

"  Never  mind  about  that,  Donald,"  said  his  father,  in 


78 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


a  tone  implying  that  he  did  not  propose  to  discuss  the 
wisdom  of  his  own  doings  with  his  son.  "  I  have  incurred 
the  obligation,  and  now  must  do  my  best  to  meet  it ;  but 
I  need  not  tell  you  how  sorely  grieved  I  am  at  having  to 
disappoint  you  about  the  university.  I'm  sure  I  was  as 
eager  for  your  going  as  you  were  yourself." 

Donald  was  silent  for  a  minute,  then  looking  earnestly 
into  his  father's  face,  he  asked  :  "  Could  you  not  borrow 
the  money,  father  ?  Wouldn't  Squire  Stewart  lend  it  to 
you  ?  " 

Mr.  Grant  shook  his  head  in  a  decisive  way.  "I  have 
never  borrowed  a  dollar  yet,  Donald ;  and,  God  helping 
me,  I  never  will.  You  would  not  be  my  tempter,  would 
you,  my  son  ?  " 

Donald's  face  clouded  for  a  moment,  and  then  broke 
into  a  smile.  "No,  father,  there  is  not  much  fear  of 
that.  But  I  do  wish  there  was  some  way  of  getting  the 
monev  to  pav  for  me  at  the  universitv." 

"  Did  it  ever  occur  to  vou  that  vou  miirht  earn  it  vour- 
self,  Donald  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Grant,  looking  at  him  intently. 

"  I  earn  it !  How  could  I,  father  ? "  inquired  Donald, 
opened-eyed  in  wonder. 

"  How  did  ^[r.  McLeod  and  Mr.  Munroe,  and  other 
students  at  the  university  pay  their  own  way  ?  "  questioned 
Mr.  Grant. 

"By  teachir  .,  father?  I  become  a  teacher?"  And 
Donald  laughed  merrilv  at  the  idea  of  svich  a  thinsr,  for 
he  deemed  himself  quite  too  young  to  fill  a  teacher's 
place. 


»-rw,>, 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


79 


"  By  teaching,  Donald,  certainly.  "Why  not  ?  You 
are  fully  competent,  even  if  you  are  rather  young," 
returned  Mr.  Grant,  in  a  tone  that  showed  he  was 
thoroughly  in  earnest. 

"  But  where  would  I  get  a  school,  father  ? "  demanded 
Donald. 

"  Without  going  away  from  home,  my  son,"  answered 
his  father  ;  and  then  he  went  on  to  explain  that  he  had 
had  the  matter  in  hand  for  some  time  past ;  that  the 
Rivervale  people  wanted  a  school  all  the  year  round  ; 
that  he  had  su^srested  Donald  as  the  teacher  to  the  other 
trustees,  who  had  heartily  consented  to  his  being  given 
the  position  ;  that  the  salary  would  be  sufficient  for  him 
to  save  in  two  years  enough  to  pay  his  expenses  for  a 
corresponding  period  at  the  university. 

Donald  listened  to  all  this  with  strangelv  nnngled  feel- 
ings.  The  idea  of  teaching  right  at  his  own  home  both 
attracted  and  repelled  him.  The  thought  of  the  two 
years'  delay  was  far  from  pleasant  to  his  eager,  ambitious 
nature ;  but  the  thought  of  paying  his  own  way  and  not 
being  a  burden  to  his  father  was  full  of  fascination.  For 
another  hour  he  discussed  the  question  with  his  father, 
who  answered  him  wisely,  patiently,  lovingly.  Then,  as 
if  by  a  sudden  inspiration,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and 
grasping  his  father's  hand,  cried  in  accents  that  rang 
with  bright  determination :  "  Father,  I  will  take  the 
position,  and  do  mv  level  best  to  be  a  srood  teacher.  It 
will  be  hard  work  at  first,  no  doubt,  but  I  will  just  stick 
to  it  in  spite  of  everything." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  SMOOTHING  OF  THE  WAY. 

DONALD  went  to  sleep  that  night  in  the  full  fervor 
of  his  resolution  to  undertake  the  office  of  teacher, 
and  dreamed  that  he  was  in  a  large  room,  even  more 
spacious  than  Mr.  Patterson's,  with  a  great  number  of 
boys  before  him  who  paid  him  the  utmost  respect,  and 
rendered  his  task  a  very  easy  one. 

But  when  he  awoke  to  the  reality  of  a  dull,  rainy  day, 
and  to  the  fact  that  he  had  pledged  himself  to  an  enter- 
prise that  would  inevitably  demand  his  utmost  patience, 
determination,  prudence,  and  self-control,  in  order  to 
insure  success,  the  dampening  chill  which  had  fallen  upon 
the  face  of  nature  seemed  to  fall  upon  his  heart  also. 
The  matter  presented  itself  to  him  in  a  very  different 
light  from  that  in  which  it  had  presented  itself  the 
previous  night.  Many  drawbf.cks  that  did  not  then  sug- 
gest themselves  did  so  now.  He  would,  indeed,  have 
much  preferred  making  his  first  appearance  as  a  teacher 
among  strangers.  That  would  not  be  one-half  so  hard 
as  doing  it  among  those  who  had  been  his  friends  aud 
playmates  from  the  beginning.'  The  sorrowful  words  of 
Christ  when  his  own  neighbors  were  offended  with  him, 
**A  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country 
and  in  h'is  own  house/'  persistently  obtruded  themselve? 
80 


DOXALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


81 


upon  his  thoughts.  He  would,  of  course,  have  his  own 
younger  brothers  among  his  scholars.  How  was  he  ever 
going  to  keep  the  irrepressible  Charlie  in  order,  and  what 
would  he  do  were  the  twins  to  take  it  into  their  mischiev- 
ous heads  to  so  misbehave  as  to  render  condign  punish- 
ment necessary  in  the  interests  of  discipline  ? 

He  did  not  trouble  his  father  with  these  misgivings, 
but  he  confided  them  all  to  his  mother ;  and  her  shrewd, 
kindlv  counsel  comforted  and  cheered  him  not  a  little. 

"  Donald,  darling,"  she  said,  passing  her  hand  softly 
over  the  crisp  black  curls  that  surmounted  his  flushed 
forehead,  "  you  are  too  apt  to  want  to  cross  the  bridge 
before  you  come  to  it.  Maybe,  I  don't  say  that  they  will, 
but  maybe  every  one  of  the  difliculties  you  have  been 
worrying  over  will  have  to  be  faced  by  you.  But  they 
certainly  will  not  all  come  at  once,  perhaps  any  two  of 
them  together ;  and  surely,  Donald,  surely,  you  are  quite 
equal  to  one  at  a  time.    Now  don't  you  think  you  are? " 

Donald  laughed. 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  do.  You  are  quite  right.  I  am  too 
fond  of  meeting  trouble  half-way.  I  must  really  try  and 
be  more  sensible.  I  have  promised  father  to  take  the 
school,  and  I  ought  to  be  grateful  for  getting  such  a  good 
chance  to  begin  to  earn  something  for  myself,  instead  of 
grumbling  over  what  may  never  happen." 

And  so,  with  the  clouds  in  good  part  cleared  away, 
Donald  went  off  whistling  cheerfuliv. 

He  would  have  two  months  of  vacation  before  entering 

upon  his  new  sphere  of  activity,  and  these  he  made  up 

9 


82 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


his  mind  to  spend  not  over  his  books,  but  in  assisting  his 
father  to  harvest  the  crops  upon  the  score  of  acres  the 
product  of  which  materially  helped  to  supplement  the 
somewhat  scanty  profits  of  carriage  making.  Into  the 
work  of  hay  making,  potato  digging,  and  other  agricult- 
ural tasks,  he  entered  with  the  same  vim  that  he  did  into 
his  studies,  and  his  vigorous  action  was  not  long  in  infect- 
ing his  brothers;  so  that  with  Charlie,  Duncan,  Bob,  and 
Harry  as  his  willing  lieutenants,  he  really  took  the  work 
quite  out  of  his  father's  hands,  very  much  to  Mr.  Grant's 
gratification,  as  he  was  thus  enabled  to  give  more  time  to 
his  shop  than  he  had  been  free  to  do  any  summer  before. 

While  Donald  was  in  the  very  midst  of  this  health-giv- 
ing work,  who  should  suddenly  appear  upon  the  scene,  a 
most  unexpected  though  most  welcome  visitor,  but  Mr. 
Munroe. 

As  the  coach  stopped  one  evening  before  Grant  the 
blacksmith's  door  for  the  customary  exchange  of  mail, 
out  stepped  the  well-remembered  teacher ;  and  his  quick 
eye  catching  sight  of  Donald  sitting  on  the  doorstep  of 
his  father's  shop  resting  after  the  toils  of  the  day,  be 
called  out : 

"  Is  that  you,  Donald  Grant  ?  Have  you  any  welcome 
for  an  old  friend  ?  " 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice,  Donald  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  the  next  instant  had  Mr.  Munroe's  hands  clasped 
in  his. 

"  Mr;  Munroe ! "  he  cried,  his  face  beaming  with  in- 
tense delight.    "  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you  I    Oh,  but 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


83 


you  are  welcome  I    A  thousand  times  welcome  I "    And 
he  wrung  his  hands  again  in  very  excess  of  joy. 

Mr.  Munroe's  pale  face  flushed  with  pleasure  at  this 
greeting,  which  showed  unmistakably  how  big  and  warm 
a  place  he  held  in  his  former  scholar's  heart. 

"  It  is  very,  very  pleasant,  Donald,"  said  he,  "  to  get 
such  a  reception;  and  I  have  come  to  stay  awhile  if 
your  mother  can  make  room  for  me.  I  am  taking  a  little 
holiday,  and  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  have  a 
look  at  Rivervale  and  my  good  friends  there.  So  that 
is  just  why  I  have  come." 

"Come  right  over  to  the  house,  sir,"  said  Donald, 
picking  up  the  valise  which  the  driver  had  handed 
down. 

"  Won't  father  and  mother  be  glad  to  see  you  again  !  '* 

Mr.  Munroe's  reception  at  the  cottage  was  no  less 
warm  than  Donald's  had  been.  Mrs.  Grant  assured  him 
that  the  spare  bedroom  was  just  waiting  for  him,  and 
then  bustled  about  getting  him  some  supper.  Every 
one  of  the  family  down  to  little  Meg  was  delighted  at  the 
advent  of  the  visitor,  and  to  Mr.  Munroe,  who  had  lost 
both  parents  while  a  child,  and  who  was  practically  alone 
in  the  world,  there  came  a  feeling  of  being  thoroughly 
at  home  that  was  indescribably  grateful. 

His  stay  with  them  continued  for  a  fortnight,  and  was 
a  period  of  unalloyed  happiness  for  Donald.  It  seemed 
that  Mr.  Munroe  was  now  a  gentleman  of  leisure.  An 
uncle  who  had  never  done  anything  for  him  in  his  life- 
time, atoned  for  his  neglect  when  dying  by  leaving  him 


84 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


a  euug  fortune.  It  was  therefore  no  longer  necessary 
for  him  to  work  for  his  own  support,  and  his  state  of 
health  being  far  from  satisfactory,  he  had  decided  to 
spend  his  days  in  study  and  travel,  feeling  sure  they 
would  not  be  many  at  best. 

He  was  greatly  pleased  with  Donald's  progress,  and 
his  brilliant  career  at  the  academy.  He  also  heartily 
approved  of  his  plan  to  teach  at  Rivervale. 

**  It  will  do  you  a  vast  deal  of  good,  Donald,"  said  he, 
"  and  you  will  derive  ever  '?o  much  more  benefit  from 
your  studies  at  the  universit;y  because  of  having  taught 
for  a  while." 

Mr.  Munroe  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  every-day 
life  of  the  family.  He  went  with  the  boys  to  the  hay 
field,  and  botanized  along  the  fences  while  they  filled  up 
the  cocks  or  loaded  the  hav  carts.  He  bathed  with  them 
in  tiie  river  at  sundown.  He  took  them  oflf  for  lonj: 
rambles  in  the  back  pasture,  and  pointed  out  to  them  a 
thousand  things  in  the  worlds  of  plant,  insect,  and  bird 
life  that  they  had  never  noticed  before ;  and  then,  in 
the  long  warm  evenings  he  delighted  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant 
by  talking  in  a  wonderfully  bright  and  interesting  way 
of  what  he  had  heard  or  seen,  often  reading  to  them  out 
of  his  favorite  books,  of  which  he  had  several  in  his 
valise.  His  visit  was  a  delight  to  the  whole  household, 
and  general  gloom  reigned  when  he  took  his  departure. 
Before  going,  he  in  some  measure  mitigated  the  sorrow 
Donald  took  no  pains  to  conceal,  by  saying  to  him: 

"You  must  stay  with  me  when  you  come  up  to  attend 


i."™,' 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


85 


the  university.  I  am  keeping  bachelor's  hall  in  my 
uncle's  house,  which  is  now  my  own,  you  know,  and  I 
think  I  will  be  able  to  make  you  tolerably  comfortable. 
In  the  meantime,  Donald,  for  fear  you  should  forget  me, 
I  am  going  to  send  you  a  batch  of  books  and  magazines 
now  and  then.    You  will  enjoy  them,  I  know." 

Enjoy  them  I  Little  fear  of  his  failing  to  do  that,  when 
hid  heart  fiiirly  hungered  for  just  such  things  ;  and  what- 
ever Mr.  Munroe  sent  would  be  sure  to  be  good.  He 
thanked  his  kind  and  thoughtful  friend  over  and  over 
again,  and  assured  him  that  he  would  make  good  use  of 
his  benefactions. 

Mr.  Munroe  did  not  forget  his  promise  when  he  re- 
turned to  Chebucto.  Thenceforward,  every  week  there 
was  a  parcel  in  the  mail  bag  for  Donald,  containing  a 
magazine  or  two,  a  couple  of  weekly  periodicals,  and 
sometimes  a  book ;  for  the  sender,  having  now  little  else 
to  do,  was  an  omnivorous  reader,  and  loved  to  share  the 
pleasures  of  literature  with  those  whom  he  knew  would 
appreciate  them. 

At  an  early  opportunity  after  his  decision  to  undertake 
the  Rivervale  school,  Donald  made  it  known  to  Mr. 
Patterson.  He  felt  bound  to  do  this  because  he  had  given 
the  head  master  to  understand  that  he  was  going  up  to 
the  university  that  autumn,  and  he  considered  that  he 
was  entitled  to  know  of  his  change  of  plan.  Much  to  his 
surprise,  Mr.  Patterson,  instead  of  expressing  sympathy 
and  regret  as  he  had  expected,  congratulated  him  upon 
having  so  easily  and  promptly  obtained  a  position. 


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86 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


•      '^ 


*'  It  will  be  the  best  thing  in  the  world  for  you,  Don- 
ald," said  he,  heartily,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder. 
**  Two  years  of  teaching  now  will,  in  the  end,  be  actually 
better  for  you  than  two  years  of  study,  because  the  ex- 
perience will  be  of  inestimable  value  to  you  all  through 
life.  I  have  oiccn  wished  that  I  had  stopped  in  the 
middle  of  my  college  course  and  taught  for  a  year  or  two 
before  going  on  to  complete  it.  I  am  sure  I  would  be  a 
better  teacher  to-dny  if  I  had  done  so ;  and  in  your  case, 
Donald,  whether  it  be  your  purpose  to  take  up  a  profes- 
sion, or  to  become  a  professor,  or  to  enter  into  the  ministry, 
when  you  look  back  upon  the  years  spent  in  the  River- 
vale  school,  I  am  sure  you  will  never  have  reason  to 
consider  theia  wasted.  But,  of  course,  you  must  keep 
up  your  studies,"  he  went  on  to  say  ;  "  you  cannot  afford 
to  let  them  lie  in  abeyance,  and  now  I  will  tell  you'  what 
I  will  do.  I  am  deeply  interested  in  you,  for  you  proved 
yourself  one  of  the  best  pupils  I  have  had  at  the  academy; 
and  I  am  anxious  that  when  you  do  go  to  the  university, 
you  shall  go  as  thoroughly  prepared  as  possible.  So  I 
am  going  to  make  you  an  offer  which  I  hope  you  will  be 
able  to  accept,  and  it  is  this:  You  and  I,  after  the 
holidays,  will  both  be  teaching  every  day  in  the  week 
except  Saturday.  That  day  is  our  own.  Now,  how 
would  you  like  to  come  into  my  study  every  Saturday 
morningj  and  spend  a  couple  of  hours  going  over  with  me 
the  studies  that  are  necessary  to  fit  you  for  the  university. 
I  am  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  curriculum.  Chebucto 
is  my  Alma  Mater,  you  know,  and  for  my  part  I  will 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


87 


really  enjoy  going  over  the  work  with  you.  Now  then, 
Donald,  what  do  you  say  ?  " 

Donald  had  heen  listening  with  brsathless  attention, 
and  a  face  of  growing  wonder  and  delight.  Was  ever  a 
boy  so  fortunate  in  his  friends,  so  manifestly  favoied? 
What  else  could  he  say  to  such  an  offer  than  to  accepi 
it  most  gladly,  and  to  try  to  express  as  best  he  could  the 
fervent  gratitude  he  felt. 

He  came  away  from  Mr.  Patterson  feeling  himself  to 
be  one  of  the  luckiest  young  fellows  in  the  world,  and 
full  of  a  noble  determination  to  show  himself  not  un- 
worthy the  interest  and  confidence  of  such  friends  and 
benefactors  as  Mr.  Munroe  and  Mr.  Patterson.  In  this 
spirit  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  teacher  of  the  River- 
vule  school,  which  reopened  after  the  holidays  on  the 
first  day  of  September. 

His  feelings,  as  he  sat  at  his  desk  and  watched  the  old 
scholars  dropping  into  their  accustomed  places,  and  the 
new  scholars  shyly  taking  their  seats  wherever  they  could 
find  a  vacancy,  cannot  be  easily  described.  He  fully 
realized  that  he  was  about  to  be  put  on  trial  as  he  had 
never  been  in  his  life  before.  He  was  not  concerned  as 
to  the  sufliciency  of  his  knowledge.  He  knew  well  enough 
that  the  utmost  requirements  of  his  position  in  that  direo- 
tiou  would  fall  far  short  of  his  own  attainments,  for  there 
would  be  no  demand  far  anything  more  than  the  mere 
rudiments  of  education. 

But  he  was  concerned,  and  very  deeply  concerned,  with 
regard  to  his  knowledge  and  command  of  himself,  as  dis- 


!i 


1' 


88 


DONALD  GBANT's  DEVELOPMEKT. 


iiit' 


tinguished  from  his  knowledge  and  command  of  the  sub- 
jects to  be  taught.  All  the  objections  to  his  undertaking 
the  charge  which  had  come  into  his  mind  when  his  father 
first  suggested  it,  now  returned  in  full  force ;  and  in  spite 
of  the  encouragement  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Munroe 
and  Mr.  Patterson,  and  the  new  strength  with  which  they 
had  inspired  him,  his  heart  felt  cold  and  heavy  as  lead. 
If  only  he  were  among  strangers  the  problem  would  not 
be  one-half  so  embarrassing.  Their  judgment  would  be 
far  more  lenient,  their  expectations  far  less  difficult  to 
satisfy,  than  those  of  the  people  among  whom  he  had 
been  born  and  bred. 

In  twos  and  threes,  the  boys  and  girls  over  whose  intel- 
jfk  lectual  development  he  was  to  preside  for  the  next  two 
years  came  in  and  distributed  themselves  over  the  school- 
room. Having  nothing  else  to  do,  they,  with  one  consent, 
devoted  themselves  to  a  minute  inspection  of  their  new 
teacher,  and  to  the  exchange  of  whispered  comments  con- 
cerning him,  all  of  which  could  hardly  be  expected  to 
tend  toward  allaying  his  mental  perturbation. 

Prompt  to  the  minute  of  the  time  for  opening,  however, 
with  an  admirably  assumed  expression  of  entire  uncon- 
cern, he  touched  the  bell  before  him  and  called  the  school 
to  order.  Perfect  silence  having  been  obtained,  he  read 
a  few  verses  from  the  Bible,  and  followed  them  with  a 
brief  prayer  which  he  had  carefully  prepared  beforehand, 
and  which  he  intended  to  use  every  morning  while  he 
taught  there. 

To  the  reading  of  the  Bible  the  scholars  were  accus- 


DONALD  ORANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


89 


tomed ;  but  the  prayer  was  an  innovation  that  quite  sur- 
prised them  at  first.  They  exchanged  glances  of  inquiry 
and,  in  some  cases,  of  amusement.  But  Donald  saw 
nothing  of  this.  His  eyes  were  reverently  closed,  and 
his  tone  was  so  devout  and  earnest  that  before  the 
prayer  ended  all  the  inattentive  ones  were  behaving 
as  they  ought.  He  had  overcome  them  by  his  sheer 
8i,acerity. 

When  the  school  really  settled  down  to  work,  as  it  did 
in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two,  he  was  glad  to  find  the  un- 
dertaking concerning  which  he  had  entertained  so  many 
apprehensions  far  less  formidable  than  he  had  imagined. 
The  school  consisted  of  about  forty  boys  and  girls,  the 
latter  being  in  the  majority,  as  the  harvest  season  had 
not  yet  ended ;  and  there  were  some  boys  at  home  helping 
their  fathers,  who  would  come  to  the  school  when  the 
crops  were  all  safely  garnered  and  they  could  be  spared 
from  the  farm.  Of  those  then  present  before  him,  all 
were  at  least  two  years  younger  than  himself.  In  addition, 
then,  to  the  dignity  of  his  position  and  superior  attain- 
ments, he  had  a  further  advantage  in  age,  which  would, 
of  course,  be  helpful  in  maintaining  discipline. 

But  this  advantage  he  had  reason  to  believe  would  not 
be  his  very  long.  The  maintaining  of  the  school  through 
the  winter,  it  was  fully  expected,  would  make  some  change 
in  its  constituency,  as  at  that  time  of  year  there  was 
always  at  home  a  number  of  young  men  who  spent  the 
summer  upon  the  salt  water,  fishing  or  trading  along  the 
coast ;  and  the  trustees  counted  upon  some  of  these  taking 


'i 

90 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


advantage  of  the  school  to  add  to  their  scantj  stock  of 
learning. 

Donald  did  not  look  forward  to  the  advent  of  these 
possible  pupils  with  any  degree  of  pleasure.  They  were 
certain  to  be  rough,  uncouth,  and  no  less  difficult  to  keep 
in  order  than  to  teach.  They  were  certain,  he  believed, 
to  cause  trouble  in  some  way  before  he  could  hope  to  get 
them  under  control,  and  he  heartily  wished  that  they 
would  not  turn  up  at  all.  As  will  presently  appear,  his 
apprehensions  of  trouble  were  not  ill-founded. 


• 


CHAPTER  IX. 


W 


THE  PROPHET  IN  HIS  OWN  COUNTRY. 

AS  soon  as  Donald  came  to  know  his  scholars  suffi- 
ciently well  to  obtain  a  good  idea  of  their  relative 
proficiency  and  capabilities,  he  set  about  a  careful  classi- 
fication of  them  according  to  what  he  conceived  to  be 
the  actual  standing  of  each  scholar.  In  the  carrying 
out  of  this  he,  so  to  speaic  struck  his  first  sand  bank. 

His  immediate  predecessor  had  been  one  of  that  easy- 
going sort  of  people  who  never  face  a  difficulty  if  they 
can  possibly  avoid  it,  and  whose  idea  of  life  is  to  move 
along  with  as  little  friction  as  possible.  He  had,  accord- 
ingly, allowed  the  scholars  to  assort  themselves  into 
classes  pretty  much  after  their  own  preferences ;  an  ar- 
rangement which  they  highly  appreciated  and  which 
they  were  very  loth  to  abandon.  When,  therefore,  Don- 
ald, quickly  recognizing  the  impossibility  of  having  any- 
thing like  satisfactory  work  done  so  long  as  such  an  ab- 
surd condition  of  things  was  suffered  to  exist,  set  about 
the  establishment  of  affairs  upon  a  proper  basis,  he  came 
at  once  face  to  face  with  the  difficulties  that  meet  all  re- 
formers. The  scholars  felt  that  he  was  interfering  with 
a  vested  interest,  and  met  his  directions,  not  with  dis- 
obedience or  outspoken  protest,  but  with  a  certain  s'lb- 
missive  hostility  that  troubled  him  very  deeply. 

91 


1^-^^ 


92 


DONALD  GBANT's  DEYELOPUENT. 


His  hope  and  purpose  was  to  win  not  only  the  respect, 
but  the  affection  of  his  scholars,  and  here,  at  the  very 
outset,  he  was  stirring  up  a  spine  of  opposition  that  would 
no  doubt  be  difficult  to  allay  again.  Yet  he  had  no 
alternative  other  than  the  arrangement  of  the  classes,  if 
he  would  achieve  any  satisfactory  results  in  his  work ; 
and  never  in  his  life  was  he  more  determined  about  any- 
thing than  that  as  a  teacher  he  would  be  at  least  as 
successful  as  he  had  been  as  a  student.  Qo  right  ahead 
he  must,  therefore,  whatever  the  consequences. 

By  the  end  of  a  fortnight  the  various  changes  neces- 
sary  were  all  completed,  and  the  machinery  of  the  school 
was  working  with  admirable  regularity  and  apparent 
smoothness.  Although  much  the  youngest  teacher  who 
had  ever  accepted  the  position,  Donald  bore  himself  in 
a  way  that  effectually  prevented  any  liberties  being  taken 
with  him.  His  keen  consciousness  of  the  difficulties  of 
his  situation  imparted  a  serious  air  to  him  that  greatly 
impressed  the  very  ones  whose  presence  he  feared  would 
most  likely  lead  to  complications,  to  wit:  the  high- 
spirited  Charlie  and  the  merry  little  mischiefs.  Bob  and 
Harry.  However  good  comrades  they  and  Donald  might 
be  at  home  and  in  play,  when  once  they  were  within  the 
walls  of  the  schoolroom  he  seemed  to  them  somehow  an 
altogether  different  individual,  and  they  were  little  dis- 
posed to  presume  upon  their  relationship.  In  regard  to 
Charlie,  moreover,  Donald  had  taken  a  step  that  spoke 
volumes  for  his  natural  sagacity.  He  admitted  him  suffi- 
ciently into  his  confidence  to  enable  him  to  appreciate 


m 


DONALD  OBANT's  DEVELOPMENT. 


93 


wOe  trying  nature  of  bis  post,  and  then  appealed  to  him 
to  help  him  all  that  be  could  by  setting  the  other  boys 
an  example  in  regard  to  well-prepared  lessons  and  per- 
fect behavior. 

The  appeal  was  entirely  successful.  It  touched  the 
right  chord  in  Charlie  s  breast,  and  he  responded  with 
a  warmth  of  good  intention,  the  sincerity  of  which  was 
not  to  be  mistaken.  Better  still,  he  kept  his  promise  as 
well  as  one  with  a  volatile  nature  like  his  could  reason- 
ably be  expected  to  do,  and  proved  himself  very  helpful 
to  his  brother  in  the  very  way  the  latter  wished. 

In  the  performance  of  his  duties  Donald  kept  both 
Mr.  McLeod — whom  he  had  by  no  means  forgotten — 
and  Mr.  Munroe  before  him  as  models  for  his  guidance. 
The  two  chief  principles  that  he  set  for  himself  were 
these :  first,  to  tell  his  scholars  nothing  that  they  could 
tell  him,  to  make  them  do  their  own  thinking,  and  to 
teach  them  to  like  to  do  it  themselves  instead  of  having 
it  done  for  them ;  and  second,  to  make  as  little  use  of 
the  rod  as  possible.  The  resort  to  brute  force,  except  in 
extreme  cases,  seemed  to  him  a  confession  of  failure. 
He  had  not  forgotten — he  never  would  forget — his  strug- 
gle with  the  teacher  who  had  beaten  him  black  and 
blue ;  and  the  memory  of  his  contempt  for  the  man  who 
knew  no  better  way  of  proving  himself  right  than  by 
blows  remained  with  him  as  a  warning  against  his  fall- 
ing into  the  same  grievous  error. 

It  was  not  unnatural  that  his  evident  reluctance  to 
resort  to  physical  punishment  as  a  means  of  securing 


94 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


•ii(P»i 


I 


■  P'  :''^l|l 


obedience  should  be  at  first  misunderstood  by  tlie 
scholars.  They  were  too  slow  of  comprehension  to 
perceive  his  purpose  to  introduce  and  stand  by  a  bevrer 
way,  and  they  misconstrued  his  so  duing  into  a  lack  uf 
courage  on  his  part.  Donald  soon  observed  this,  and  it 
shook  his  resolution  not  a  little.  But  a  discussion  of  the 
subject  with  Mr.  Patterson,  with  whom  he  had  talked 
over  his  experience  every  Saturday  at  their  morning 
meeting,  confirmed  him  in  his  purpose  to  persevere,  and 
he  went  on  steadfastly. 

So  far  as  he  was  himself  concerned,  it  would  have  been 
much  easier  when  punishment  was  merited  to  administer 
a  proper  number  of  blows,  and  thus  end  the  matter ;  for 
the  penalties  he  inflicted  he  had  himself  in  part,  at  least, 
to  share,  his  method  being  to  appoint  the  culprit  a  certain 
task,  and  then  to  keep  him  in  after  school  until  it  was 
performed.  This,  of  course,  meant  his  staying  in  also, 
which  was  not  at  all  to  his  liking ;  for  at  the  end  of  the 
long  session  he  usually  felt  quite  as  eager  to  get  out  into 
the  open  air  as  any  of  the  scholars.  But  this  undesirable 
feature  of  his  system  he  accepted  as  inevitable,  and  found 
some  compensation  in  employing  the  time  upon  his  own 
studies. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  days  slipped  by  very  smoothly. 
The  opposition  aroused  by  the  re-classification  seemed  to 
have  entirely  subsided  again,  and  despite  occasional 
struggles  with  some  particularly  dull  or  obstinate  scholar, 
Donald  found  little  to  justify  the  apprehensions  of  diffi- 
culty which  had  weighed  so  heavily  upon  his  heart  three 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


95 


months  before.  Mr.  Patterson's  counsel  was  of  inestima- 
ble value  to  him.  At  their  weekly  meeting  their  first 
business  was,  of  course,  the  work  that  Donald  was  doing 
in  preparation  for  the  university.  Afler  spending  an 
hour  or  more  at  this,  Mr.  Patterson  would  then  push  the 
books  aside,  saying:  "That  will  do  fur  this  morning. 
You  are  making  excellent  progress,  Donald.  You  will 
certainly  be  able  to  enter  the  second  year  at  once,  which 
will  be  a  great  advantage.  Come  now,  let  us  hear  how 
the  Rivervale  school  is  getting  on." 

Whereupon  Donald  would  proceed  to  relate  whatever 
of  interest  had  occurred  during  the  week,  and  Mr.  Pat- 
terson would  comment  freely  upon  his  report,  giving  him 
the  benefit  of  his  experience  upon  all  points  concerning 
which  Donald  sought  his  coun$:el.  The  advice  he  gave 
was  always  faithfully  followed.  His  former  pupil  had 
the  utmost  confidence  in  his  wisdom,  and  Mr.  Patterson 
was  thus  enabled  to  have  put  into  practice  certain  theories 
as  to  the  best  methods  of  elementarv  education  which  in 
his  own  position  he  could  not  apply.  The  arrangement 
was  therefore  mutually  advantageous,  and  the  head  master 
was  very  well  pleased  to  hear  from  Donald,  week  by 
week,  hopeful  accounts  of  the  condition  of  the  school. 

In  this  pleasant  fashion  matters  went  on  until  late  in 
November,  and  then  Donald  was  called  upon  to  face  the 
first  real  crisis  in  his  career  as  a  schoolmaster.  This  was 
hrought  about  by  the  advent  of  the  big  boys,  who  were 
away  from  home  all  summer  and  only  spent  their  winters 
at  Rivervale.    They  made  their  appearance  one  by  one 


96 


DONALD  ORANT*H  DEVELOPMENT. 


until  there  were  six  of  iliein  in  ail,  for  the  most  part 
awkward,  overgrown  youths.  They  were  as  full  of  conceit 
as  they  were  empty  of  knowledge,  and  no  less  lacking  in 
manners  than  in  serious  purpose  to  benefit  by  the  school. 
The  truth  of  the  matter  was  that  they  came  not  to  learn, 
but  to  have  some  fun  out  of  it.    They  had  nothing  to 
occupy  their  time  until  spring,  and  as  the  master  of  all 
mischief  is  ever  ready  to  find  employment  for  idle  hands, 
these  lounging  fellows  took  it  into  their  heads  to  see 
whether  they  could  not  make  the  school  supply  them  with 
amusemenf  for  the  winter.    They  were  all  as  old  or  older 
than  Donald,  and,  with  one  exception,  his  superiors  in 
height  and  strength ;  and  they  had  entered  into  a  solemn 
league  with  one  another  that  under  no  circumstances 
would  they  submit  to  punishment  from  the  "  young  kid  of 
a  teacher,"  aa  they  called  him ;  if  necessary,  combining  to 
prevent  him  from  enforcing  the  penalties  he  might  impose. 
An  especial    relish   was  imparted  to  their  proposed 
amusement  by  the  fact  of  Donald's  youth  and  of  his  be- 
longing to  the  settlement.     They  did  not  live  at  the 
crossroads  nor  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.    Their 
homes  were  on  what  was  known  as  the  Harbor  Road ; 
and  there  never  had   been  any   great  degree   of  cor- 
diality between  the  Rivervale  folk  and  those  of  Harbor. 
They  had  the  right  to  attend  the  school,  however.    In- 
deed, as  has  been  already  mentioned,  their  presence  was 
counted  mpon  by  the  trustees,  and  the  desire  to  do  them 
some  good  was  one  of  the  causes  that  led  to  the  school 
being  continued  through  the  winter. 


DONALD  quant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


97 


Donald  regnrded  his  new  pupils  with  a  good  deal  of 
inward  trepidation.  He  was  conscious  that  although  the 
current  of  affairs  had  been  running  with  gratifying 
smoothness  for  some  time  past,  there  nevertheless  existed 
in  the  school  a  latent  spirit  of  antagonisim  that  only 
wanted  leadership  to  manifest  itself  openly ;  and  he  had 
good  reason  to  apprehend  that  this  leadership  would  be 
suppHed  by  the  Harbor  boys  at  the  first  cm  portunity. 
They  had  made  no  secret  of  their  intention  to  "  bully rng 
the  youngster,"  as  they  expressed  it,  ai.v.  this,  of  r.iurse, 
had  not  bc^n  long  in  reaching  his  ears. 

But  not  a  sign  of  his  anxiety  did  he  betray  to  any  one. 
His  fixed  determination  was,  whatever  might  happen,  to 
face  the  contest  alone,  and  to  ask  help  from  no  one  un- 
less matters  went  utterly  beyond  his  coiitrol.  He  knew, 
of  course,  that  an  appeal  to  the  trustees  would  remove 
the  difficultv  at  once,  as  the  Harbor  bovs  would  be  for- 
bidden  the  school.  That,  however,  was  the  very  thing 
he  wished  to  avoid.  His  hope  and  desire  was  not  only 
to  uin  over  the  disturbing  element  to  the  side  of  order, 
but  to  do  these  rough,  uncultivated  lads  wlio  had  had  so 
few  cliances  of  improvement,  some  positive  good.  To 
have  them  banished  from  the  school  in  the  event  of  their 
attempting  to  carry  out  their  foolish  boasts  would  be  a 
hollow  victory.  But  to  keep  them  in  the  school,  to  en- 
list their  interest,  to  awaken  their  ambition,  and  perhaps 
to  gain  their  good  opinion  and  liking,  that  would  be  a 
triumph  well  worth  much  prudence,  patience,  and  stead- 

fa£t  self-control ;  and  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  end 

G 


IT" 


n 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


Donald,  not  forgetting  to  seek  divine  blessinfr  and  guid- 
ance, resolutely  applied  himself. 

During  the  first  week  of  the  presence  of  the  Harbor 
boys  in  the  school,  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of 
things  occurred,  although  Donald  did  not  fail  to  notice 
a  certain  half-suppressed  restlessness  among  the  other 
boys  at  times,  tliat  showed  there  was  a  general  expectancy 
of  something  exciting  being  in  the  air.  Donald  took 
care  to  assign  his  big  scholars  seats  where  thev  would  be 
right  under  his  eye,  and  to  keep  them  as  far  apart  as 
possible.  They  obeyed  all  his  directions  with  reasonable 
promptness,  and  made  tolerable  efforts  to  master  the 
none-too-difficult  IcFaons  he  set  them.  To  be  sure,  their 
answers  at  times  were  so  ludicrously  inaccurate  that  it 
seemed  as  if  they  were  thus  intended,  in  order  to  turn 
the  proceedings  into  a  kind  of  farce.  But  Donald,  keep- 
ing both  his  risible  faculties  and  his  temper  well  under 
control,  never  for  a  moment  evinced  that  he  suspected 
anything  of  the  kind.  With  unfailing  courtesy  and 
patience  he  corrected  their  errors,  apparently  sympathiz- 
ing from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  with  his  scholars'  bung- 
ling attempts. 

The  leader  of  the  Harbor  Road  party  was  Ancrm 
Gillis,  a  tall,  lank,  raw-boned,  red-haired,  freckle-faced 
fellow,  whose  otherwise  expressionless  countenance  was 
at  times  lit  up  by  a  cunning  leer  that  showed  he  was  by 
no  means  so  stupid  as,  for  some  hidden  reason,  he  pre- 
tended to  be.  The  way  in  which  he  mangled  the  simple 
lessons  assigned  him  would  certainly  have  provoked  the 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


99 


Vv. 


majority  of  teachers  either  to  contemptuous  laughter  or 
indignant  wrath,  and  if  Donald  had  not  been  so  fully 
on  his  guard  he  would  without  doubt  have  given  way  in 
one  direction  or  the  other. 

But  in  spite  of  many  temptations,  he  restrained  him- 
self with  admirable  self-control  until  at  length,  one  day, 
Angus,  who  evidently  thought  it  was  time  to  begin  to 
"  bully  the  youngster,"  not  content  with  making  a  fool 
of  himself,  undertook  to  make  a  fool  of  the  schoolmaster 
also. 

The  spelling  class  was  ranged  before  the  desk,  Angus 
in  his  usual  place  at  the  foot.  The  other  scholars  had 
answered  satisfactorily,  but  when  Donald  came  to  Angus 
he  detected  signs  of  that  leer  of  low  cunning  which  was 
an  augury  of  trouble.  The  word  given  out  was  a  rather 
difficult  one  as  it  happened,  being  "manslaughter." 

Donald  pronounced  it  slowly,  and  distinctly  enough  to 
be  heard  down  at  the  door.  But  Angus,  assuming  an 
expression  of  blankest  stupidity,  put  his  hand  to  his  ear, 
and  bending  his  head  forward,  ejaculated: 

"Eh?" 

The  tone  was  utterly  wanting  in  respect,  and  for  an 
insiant  a  dangerous  light  flashed  in  the  teacher's  dark 
eyes.  Controlling  himself,  however,  he  fixed  his  gaze 
upon  Gillis  until  the  latter's  eyes  sullenly  dropped,  and 
then  said,  in  a  clear,  steady  voice : 

"  The  word,  Angus,  is  manslaughter." 

It  would  have  been  the  height  of  folly  and  falseness 
for  Angus  to  pretend  that  he  did  not  hear  this  time,  so 


100 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


with  a  sort  of  grunt  that  might  be  interpreted  as  an 
assenting  "  Oh  I ''  he  hung  his  head  in  an  attitude  of  pro- 
found cogitation,  and  putting  his  right  hand  up  to  bis 
coarse  red  locks,  proceeded  to  tug  at  them  as  though  he 
hoped  in  that  way  to  stimulate  his  dull  brain.  He  looked 
so  completely  bewildered  that  the  class,  all  of  whose 
members  knew  well  enough  that  he  could  spell  the  word 
aright  if  he  chose,  broke  out  into  an  audible  laugh  which 
Donald  promptly  quelled  by  a  sharp  command  of 
"Silence!" 

At  last  inspiration  seemed  to  come  to  Angus.  He 
lifted  his  tousled  head,  and  with  an  expression  whoie 
gleam  of  malicious  intelligence  made  his  ridiculous  an- 
swer all  the  more  aggravating,  doled  out  his  reply  after 
this  fashion : 

"  M-a-n  man,"  then  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  a  long  pause 
as  if  to  get  breath  for  the  remainder,  "  s-l-o-r  slor, 
manslor,  t-a-r  tar,  manslortar." 

A  burst  of  laughter  that  could  not  be  controlled  came 
from  the  class,  and  Angus,  with  a  triumphant  grin,  looked 
boldly  into  his  teacher's  face.  Donald  realized  that  the 
crisis  had  come,  and  set  his  teeth  for  the  inevitable 
struggle. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   TURNING   OF  THE  TIDE. 

STRIDING  swiftly  across  the  platform  until  he  con- 
fronted Angus  in  his  ignominious  position  at  the  foot 
of  the  class,  Donald  drew  himself  up,  his  arms  straight  and 
stiff  at  his  sides,  his  hands  clenched  tightly,  and  his  whole 
appearance  so  like  that  of  one  ready  to  spring  and  strike 
without  further  warning,  that  the  big  fellow,  whose  height 
alinost  equalled  Donald's  although  he  had  the  advantage 
of  the  platform,  shrank  back  out  of  reach  and  threw  up 
his  arms  in  a  gesture  of  defense. 

Ignoring  this  movement  as  though  it  had  not  been 
made,  the  young  teacher,  fixing  his  flashing  eyes  upon 
the  now  rather  dismayed  scholar,  said  in  the  sternest 
tone  he  could  command  :  "  Once  more — spell  *  man- 
slaughter.' " 

There  was  perfect  silence  in  the  room  as  Angus,  still 
keeping  behind  the  line  and  evidently  in  a  very  confused 
state  of  mind,  endeavored  in  earnest  to  spell  the  word  cor- 
rectly. But  although  he  could  have  done  it  easily  enough 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  he  was  by  this  time  so  de- 
moralized that  he  could  not  get  the  right  letters  into  their 
proper  order.  He  tried  again  and  again,  each  enfoit 
being  wider  of  the  mark  than  the  preceding  one,  until  at 
last  Donald,  seeing  that  it  was  hopeless  to  attempt  to  get 

101 


i  t 


102 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


anything  better  from  him  then,  said,  without  relaxing  the 
sternness  of  liis  tone :  "  That  will  do.  You  need  not  try 
again.    Come  up  here." 

For  a  moment  Angus  looked  as  if  he  would  not  obey, 
but  as  Donald  made  a  movemen*  is  though  to  lay  hands 
upon  him,  he  changed  his  mind  and  sullenly  stepped 
forward. 

"  Here,"  directed  Donald,  putting  a  spelling  book  in 
his  hands  opened  at  the  lesson  for  the  day,  "  take  this 
and  stand  back  there  against  the  wall  until  you  have 
learned  vour  lesson." 

Angus  cast  a  quick  glance  around  tl  3  room,  seeking 
to  find  in  the  faces  of  his  companions  from  the  Harbor 
Road  signs  of  sympathy  that  would  encourage  him  to 
break  out  in  open  revolt.  But  so  prompt  and  energetic 
had  been  Donald's  action,  and  so  commanding  was  his 
appearance  as  he  stood  beside  the  desk,  that  not  one  of 
them  dared  so  much  as  return  the  look.  Disappointed 
and  downcast,  Angus  then  crawled  reluctantly  to  the 
place  pointed  out,  and  sought  to  hide  his  confusion  by 
pretending  to  be  absorbed  in  the  book  he  held,  his  heart 
all  the  while  burning  with  suppressed  rage  and  his  brain 
busy  with  thoughts  of  revenge. 

Donald  dismissed  the  class,  and  for  some  time  did  Dot 
ca^l  up  another.  He  felt  quite  certain  that  although  to 
all  appearances  he  had  gained  the  day,  the  advantage 
was  not|)ermanent.  Neither  Angus  Gillis  nor  the  Harbor 
Road  faction  he  headed  was  to  be  so  easily  disposed  of  as 
that.    But  just  what  would  be  the  next  happening  and 


DONALD  GRANT*S  DEVELOPMENT. 


103 


how  he  would  meet  it  were  questions  that  possessed  his 
thoughts  to  the  exclusion  of  everything  else.  He  felt 
tiiat  he  could  not  teach  while  in  this  frame  of  mind.  He 
must  wait  until  he  knew  whether  or  not  there  was  more 
trouble  to  come. 

As  it  turned  out,  he  had  not  to  wait  long.  Glancing 
up  from  the  book  he  was  pretending  to  read,  he  caught 
the  scholars  in  the  midst  of  a  stealthy  smile  of  amuse- 
ment at  something  being  done  behind  his  back.  His  first 
impulse  was  to  wheel  about  and  discover  the  cause,  but  a 
better  plan  the  next  instant  suggested  itself.  Affecting 
not  to  have  noticed  what  was  going  on,  he  bent  over  his 
book  again  until,  looking  out  from  under  his  eyebrows, 
he  again  caught  the  smile  spreading  through  the  rows  of 
scholars.  Then,  like  a  fliish,  he  swung  around  in  his 
chair  and  was  face  to  face  with  Gillis.  So  swift  and  un- 
expected was  the  movement  that  it  caught  the  latter  red- 
handed,  so  to  speak.  Having  recovered  from  his  first 
rebuff,  he  had  been  endeavoring  to  express  his  contempt 
for  the  young  teacher,  as  well  as  his  intention  to  get  even 
with  him,  by  making  hideous  grimaces  behind  his  back, 
accompanied  by  a  vigorous  shaking  of  fists  and  other 
demonstrations  of  hostile  intent.  While  in  the  very 
midst  of  this  proceeding,  Donald  had  turned  upon  him. 
For  the  first  moment  he  continued  the  grimace,  although 
his  clenched  fist  dropped  nervously  to  his  side.  Then 
Donald's  voice  made  him  jump,  as  the  command  fell  on 
his  ears :  "  Hold  out  your  hand  I " 

The  young  teacher  realized  that  the  time  for  decision 


li 


if 

i  .i 


r 


104 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


had  come.  Further  parleying  was  out  of  the  question. 
Gillis  must  be  conquered  on  the  spot,  or  his  authority 
would  be  seriously  impaired.  Shortly  after  taking  the 
school  he  had  made  a  change  in  the  instrument  of  punish- 
ment. This  had  been  a  stout  cane,  which  the  teacher 
applied  to  the  hands  or  back  of  the  culprit  as  he  saw  fit. 
Donald  did  not  like  the  cane.  He  thought  it  savored  too 
much  of  cruelty ;  so  he  had  banished  it,  adopting  in  its 
place  a  leather  taws-strap  that  seemed  to  him  a  much 
more  humane  weapon  to  wield.  He  held  this  in  his  hand 
now,  and  taking  one  step  toward  Angus,  he  swung  it  over 
his  shoulder  as  he  repeated  his  command:  "Hold  out 
your  hand ! " 

Mechanically  Angus  obeyedj  his  eyes  fastened  on 
Donald  with  a  look  in  which  fear  and  raofe  were  strange! v 
blended ;  but  ere  the  blow  co.ild  fall,  he  withdrew  his 
hand  again  and  put  it  behind  his  back.  The  strap  swished 
futilely  through  the  air  until  it  struck  full  upon  Donald, 
without,  however,  doing  him  much  hurt.  Instantly  he 
swung  it  aloft  again.  "  Hold  out  your  hand ! "  he 
thundered. 

Angus  brought  his  hands  out  from  behind  his  back, 
but  it  was  not  in  order  to  render  obedience.  Instead  of 
extending  one,  as  commanded  to  do,  he  gathered  himself 
together,  and  with  a  sudden  rush  attempted  to  charge  past 
Donald  down  into  the  body  of  the  room,  where  the  other 
scholars  ^were  watching  the  struggle  between  master  and 
pupil  with  breathless  interest. 

Tlie  movement  was  a  remarkably  quick  one  for  so 


■ 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


105 


clumsy  a  lad,  yet  it  did  not  take  Donald  unawares.  He 
had,  in  fact,  anticipated  some  such  action,  and  was  better 
prepared  for  it  than  Angus  imagined.  Seizing  him  firmly 
by  the  collar  of  bis  coat,  he  brought  him  to  a  sudden 
stop,  and  then,  in  a  quieter  tone  than  that  in  which  he 
had  last  spoken,  said  :  '•  Go  back  to  your  place,  Angus, 
and  hold  out  your  hand." 

But  Angus's  evil  spirit  had  now  full  possession  of  hira, 
overcoming  all  respect  for  his  teacher,  all  fear  for  him- 
self, all  care  for  the  consequences  of  sucb  open  defiance 
of  orders.  His  face  was  red  with  rage,  his  ordinarily  dull 
eyes  flashed  with  fury,  and  he  replied  to  the  command 
by  a  volley  of  oaths  and  a  violent  attempt  to  break 
loose. 

Now  Donald's  delight  in  athletic  exercises  has  been 
already  referred  to,  as  well  as  the  proficiency  he  had  ac- 
quired in  them.  His  favorite  amusement  was  wrestling. 
During  his  last  year  at  the  academy  there  was  not  a  boy 
there  whom  he  could  not  throw  on  short  notice.  Not 
content  with  the  skill  obtained  by  practicing  on  his 
schoolmates,  he  had  sought  out  the  champion  wrestler  of 
the  county  and  persuaded  him  to  initiate  him  into  some 
of  his  pet  devices,  until  he  became  almost  as  expert  as 
his  instructor.  This  accomplishment  was  now  going  to 
stand  him  in  good  stead.  The  instant  Angus  endeavored 
to  wrench  himself  free,  Donald  exclaimed:  "No,  no, 
Angus,  you  shall  not  do  that,"  and  threw  his  strong  arms 
about  him  and  gained  just  the  hold  he  wanted. 

Then  there  was  a  sharp  struggle,  for  Angus,  though 


106 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


loosely  built  and  clumsy,  had  muscles  toughened  by  hard 
work  on  board  ship ;  and  he  put  forth  his  utmost  efforts 
to  extricate  himself  from  Donald's  grip  of  steel.  But 
he  strove  in  vain.  He  was  in  the  grasp  of  an  expert 
wrestler,  while  he  knew  little  or  nothing  of  the  art ;  and 
all  at  once,  just  when  he  thought  he  was  gaining  ground, 
his  knees  were  doubled  under  him,  his  shoulders  pressed 
backward,  and  down  he  went  in  a  helpless  heap  upon  the 
platform. 

As  he  fell,  one  of  his  companions  sprang  from  his  seat 
with  the  evident  intention  of  rushing  to  his  assistance ; 
but  with  the  quickness  of  a  panther,  Charlie,  who  had 
been  an  impatient  spectator  of  the  struggle,  and  con- 
sumed with  longing  to  take  part,  but  afraid  to  do  so  un- 
til called  upon,  sprang  from  his  seat  also ;  and  seizing  the 
heavy  iron  poker  that  lay  beside  the  stove,  swung  it 
menacingly  in  the  air,  crying :  "  Go  back  to  your  seat, 
Rory,  or  I'll  break  your  head  with  this." 

Rory  did  not  attempt  to  parley.  Back  into  his  seat 
he  dropped,  while  Charlie,  now  feeling  that  he  had  ample 
justification  for  decisive  action,  took  up  a  position  in  the 
central  aisle  where  he  could  command  all  the  Harbor 
Road  boys,  and  holding  his  dangerous  weapon  ready  to 
strike,  effectually  shut  off  all  chance  of  interference  on 
the  part  of  Angus's  sympathizers. 

In  the  meantime  Donald,  standing  over  Angus  a  little 
out  of  breath,  but  entirely  master  of  himself,  addressed 
the  discomfited  boy  in  a  quiet  yet  firm  voice,  saying: 
"  Come  now,  Angus,  that  is  enough  foolishness  for  once. 


^W" 


r 


r 


*--T'-r^"y  -fyi*'"**  "tf^T*^ 


Diinalil  Uriiiu. 


I'liHf  106 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


107 


Pick  yourself  up  aud  go  back  to  your  place  until  I  send 
you  to  your  seat.  I  will  consider  the  trouble  you  have 
just  had  sufficient  punishment  if  you  will  behave  your- 
self." 

Glad  to  be  let  off  so  easily,  for  he  had  fully  expected 
tliat  Donald  would  seize  the  opportunity  to  administer  a 
good  thrashing  while  he  was  at  his  mercy,  Gillis  scram- 
bled to  his  feet,  picking  up  his  book  as  he  did  so,  and  went 
l)iick  to  the  spot  where  he  had  been  put  at  first.  For  the 
time  bt  .ig,  at  all  events,  he  was  completely  subdued. 
He  recognized  Donald  not  only  as  his  teacher,  but  as  his 
master,  and  had  no  more  desire  to  try  conclusions  with 
him. 

When  he  resumed  his  position,  Charlie,  seeing  that 
there  would  be  no  further  need  for  his  services,  quietly 
returned  the  poker  to  its  place  and  slipped  into  his  seat, 
nut  unobserved  hy  his  brother,  who  wondered  a  little 
what  it  all  meant,  but  wisely  postponed  inquiry  until 
school  should  be  over. 

There  was  a  general  gasp  of  relief  from  the  school  on 
order  being  thus  restored.  Many  of  the  scholars  had 
been  verv  anxious  lest  some  harm  should  be  done  their 
teacher,  while  others  felt  a  similar  anxiety  concerning 
Angus.  All  were  correspondingly  glad  when  the  strug- 
gle came  to  an  end  without  either  being  injured ;  for 
beyond  a  good  shaking,  Angus  was  little  the  worse  for 
his  fall. 

For  the  next  quarter  of  an  hour  there  was  almost 
perfect  silence  in  the  room.    Then   having  completely 


f 


108 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


recovered  his  self-control  and  thought  out  carefully  just 
what  he  would  say,  Donald  turned  to  Angus.  "You 
may  go  back  to  your  seat  now,"  said  he. 

The  big  fellow  obeyed  with  great  alacrity,  something? 
like  a  smile  spreading  over  his  countenance  as  he  dropped 
heavily  into  bis  place. 

"  Will  you  please  all  give  me  ycur  attention,  scholars?'* 
continued  Donald.  "  I  want  to  have  a  little  talk  with 
you  this  afternoon  before  I  dismiss  the  school." 

With  faces  full  of  curiosity,  the  boys  and  girls  sat  up 
on  the  beaches  in  an  attitude  of  the  keenest  attention. 
Donald  then  ro?e  from  the  chair,  and,  standing  beside  his 
desk,  addressed  them  as  follows  :  "  I  am  not  surprised  at 
what  has  happened  to-day,  for  I  havr  been  expecting 
something  of  the  kind.  Maybe  some  of  you  have  too." 
And  here  he  gave  a  meaning  glance  at  the  Harbor 
Road  boys.  "  Nor  am  I  altogether  soriy ;  for  I  believe 
it  will  not  occur  again.  Now  i  want  to  ask  you  a  few 
questions,  and  I  want  you  to  answer  them  promptly  and 
frankly.  Have  I  ever  been  unfair  or  unjust  to  any  of 
you,  or  have  I  seemed  to  show  any  favo.  itism  ?  " 

There  was  a  momentary  pause,  each  scholar  waiting  for 
some  other  to  lead  off  in  answering,  and  then  all  at  once 
came  a  chorus  of  "  No,  sir.    No,  sir." 

"  Have  I  treated  any  of  you  harshly  ? "  continued 
Donald.  "  Have  I  been  too  severe  in  punishing  any  of 
vou?"    ' 

Again  the  chorus  of  negatives. 

"  Don't  you  think  I  have  done  my  best  to  be  a  faithful 


DONALD  GEANT's  DEVELOPMENT. 


109 


teacher  and  to  help  you  to  learn  your  lessons,  so  that  you 
might  get  the  most  good  possible  from  the  school  ?  ** 

"  Yes,  sir ;  indeed  you  have,  sir,"  wis  the  hearty  re- 
sponse. 

"  Well,  then,  scholars,'' — and  now  the  speaker's  tone 
changed  from  one  of  inquiry  to  affectionate  appeal, — "  do 
you  think  it  is  treating  me  in  a  kind  or  fair  way,  when  I 
have  done  my  very  best  for  you,  to  turn  upon  me  and  try 
to  do  me  harm  ?  I  know  some  of  you  did  not  like  my 
rearranging  the  classes  a  little  while  ago,  but  you  must  all 
see  now  that  it  was  the  right  thing  to  do,  and  that  the 
work  has  gone  on  ever  so  much  better  for  it.  I  know 
too,  that  some  of  you  think  me  too  young  for  a  teacher ; 
but  if  I  can  teach  you  as  much  as  you  can  learn,  what 
matter  is  it  how  young  I  may  be  ?  I  do  want,  scholars, 
that  we  should  thorouffhlv  understand  each  other.  I  am 
anxious  and  determined  to  do  the  very  best  I  can  for  you 
all  while  I  am  your  teacher.  Isn't  it  only  fair  and 
reasonable  that  you  should  do  the  best  for  me  ?  lam 
sure  I  take  no  pleasure  in  finding  fault  with  you  or  im- 
posing punishment.  I  would  be  only  too  glad  if  I  never 
had  to  punish  at  all ;  and  I  want  you  from  this  out  to 
try  to  help  me  have  as  little  punishing  as  possible. 
Will  you  promise?" 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  heartiness  of  the  response. 
Donald's  gallant  bearing  in  his  contest  with  Angus  Gillis, 
his  magnanimous  treatment  of  him  after  he  had  brought 
him  to  submission,  and  the  sincere,  engaging  way  in 
which  he  now  spoke,  had  completely  captured  his  scholars' 


'W 


'iHii^ 


;e- 


110 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


hearts.  They  were  quite  ready  to  spring  to  their  feet  and 
cheer  for  him  if  they  had  been  asked  to  do  so ;  and  in 
answer  to  his  question  they  shouted  back  a  unanimous 
"  Yes,  sir,  we'll  promise,"  that  delighted  their  teacher's 
heart.  His  face  glowed  with  pleasure  as  he  surveyed 
their  beaming  countenances,  and  there  was  a  noticeable 
tremor  in  his  voice  as  he  went  on  to  say :  •*  Thank  you 
for  that  answer,  scholars.  I  will  try  to  show  you  how 
grateful  I  am  for  it.  You  are  all  dismissed  now."  And 
he  resumed  his  seat  while  the  scholars,  with  much  noise 
and  bustle,  hastened  out  into  the  open  air,  where  tliey 
gathered  in  groups  to  talk  over  the  exciting  events  of 
the  day. 

The  Harbor  Road  lads  at  once  set  off  for  their  homes. 
They  had  much  to  say  to  one  another  about  what  had 
occurred,  and  what  they  thought  of  the  young  teacher 
who  had  proved  himself  so  much  wiser  and  stronger  than 
they  had  expected.  Rory  Chesholm,  the  one  Charlie  had 
sent  back  to  his  seat  at  the  point  of  the  poker,  was  for 
making  another  trial  at  getting  the  upper  hand  of  the 
schoolmaster;  but,  strange  to  say,  no  one  opposed  the 
idea  more  stoutly  than  Angus.  Donald's  wise  leniency 
had  affected  him  more  than  his  skill  in  wrestling.  Ad- 
miration, which  would  soon  become  liking,  had  taken  the 
place  of  his  unreasonable  prejudice.  From  an  enemy  he 
was  ready  to  become  a  friend,  and  he  would  not  listen  to 
any  suggestion  of  further  misbehavior ;  so  that  it  was  evi- 
dent that  Donald  was  not  likely  to  have  any  more  trouble 
from  the  "  Harbor  Road  gang  "  while  he  was  its  leader. 


CHAPTER  XL 


A   SUCCESSFUL   EXPERIMENT. 


MR.  PATTERSON  was  greatly  interested  by  Donald's 
graphic  description  of  his  encounter  with  Angus 
Gillis  and  its  satisfactory  termination,  when  he  heard  it 
tlie  following  Saturday  morning. 

"  I  think  you  showed  most  excellent  judgment  through 
it  all,  Donald,"  said  he.  "  Really  I  could  not  have  done 
better  myself,  old  hand  at  teaching  as  I  am.  You  cer- 
tainly have  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of  sagacity,  and 
a  positive  genius  for  government.  I  predict  for  you  a 
brilliant  career  in  any  line  of  life  that  especially  calls  for 
those  qualities." 

Donald  blushed  with  pleasure  at  this  praise,  which  was 
evidently  no  empty  compliment,  but  entirely  sincere. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you  to  say  that,"  he  replied,  "  and 
it  is  a  great  encouragement  to  me.  I  do  want  to  win 
success  as  a  teacher,  and  I  am  anxious  that  my  scholars 
should  not  only  respect  me,  but  really  like  me  too,  just 
as  I  did  Mr.  McLeod  and  Mr.  Munroe." 

"  Bv  the  wav,  Donald,  that  reminds  mo  of  an  idea  I 
have  had  in  mind  for  some  time  past,"  said  Mr.  Patterson. 
"  Did  you  ever  think  of  trying  to  entertain  your  scholars 
ahtile?" 

"Entertain  them,  sir!"  exclaimed  Donald,  in  a  tone 

111 


» ) 


I 


112 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


Mr 


of  surprise.  "  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing.  It 
seemed  to  me  my  only  business  was  to  teach  them." 

"  That  is  your  chief  business,  certainly,"  returned  Mr. 
Patterson.  "  But  do  you  know,  I  believe  you  might 
undertake  to  entertain  them  also  with  advantage  both  to 
yourself  and  them." 

Then,  seeing  that  Donald  was  very  much  in  the  dark  as 
to  his  meaning,  he  went  on  to  explain  himself:  "I  will 
tell  you  what  I  am  driving  at.  You  are  very  fond  of 
reading,  and  you  frequently  receive  books  and  magazines 
from  your  good  friend,  Mr.  Munroe.  Now,  don't  you 
think  that  you  could  find  in  those  books  and  magazines 
many  things  that  your  scholars  would  be  very  glad  to 
listen  to,  if  you  were  to  read  to  them  in  an  interesting 
wav?" 

Donald  caught  the  idea  at  once.  The  look  of  wonder- 
ing inquiry  that  had  been  on  his  face  at  first  changed  to 
one  of  understanding  and  assent. 

"  Why,  of  course  I  could,  Mr.  Patterson,"  he  cried, 
bringing  his  hand  down  upon  his  knee  with  an  emphatic 
slap.  "  That  is  a  grand  notion.  If  they  will  only  listen 
attentively,  I  will  like  reading  to  them  well  enough." 

"Never  fear  but  that  they  will  listen,  Donald," 
answered  Mr.  Patterson.  "  I  used  to  do  it  in  a  school  I 
taught  long  ago,  and  the  scholars'  attentioa  never  flagged. 
They  all  enjoyed  the  reading  greatly,  and  I  dare  say  it 
did  sonn»e  of  them  as  much  good  as  the  teaching." 

It  was  not  Donald's  way  to  put  off  the  doing  of  any- 
thing upon  which  he  had  decided.    Consequently,  that 


DON'ALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


113 


It 


very  night  he  looked  through  the  stock  of  literature  in 
his  room  and  got  ready  to  give  Mr.  Patterson's  suggestion 
a  fair  trial,  being  himself,  it  must  be  confessed,  a  little 
doubtful  as  to  whether  the  Riveivale  scholars  would 
appreciate  the  attractions  of  the  kind  of  literature  he 
preferred. 

On  the  following  Monday  afternoon,  half  an  hour 
before  the  time  for  closing  the  school,  he  told  them  to  put 
away  their  work  as  he  wanted  to  speak  to  them  about 
something.  They,  naturally  enough,  expected  some  further 
reference  to  the  trouble  of  the  preceding  week,  and 
were  no  less  relieved  than  pleased  when  his  communica- 
tion proved  to  be  of  an  entirely  different  character. 

Very  much  to  his  gratification,  they  received  his 
proposal  to  read  and  talk  with  them  for  half  an  hour 
each  afternoon  with  every  mark  of  sincere  pleasure. 
Even  the  Harbor  Road  boys  brightened  up  as  the  matter 
was  explained  to  them.  No  doubt  they  had  somewhat 
different  notions  as  to  what  would  be  read  from  those 
that  were  in  Donald's  mind,  but  this  mattered  little.  So 
long  as  they  were  eager  for  reading,  Donald  trusted  that 
he  could  enlist  their  interest  and  make  them  enjoy  what 
he  had  selected,  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  much  as  if  they 
had  chosen  it  themselves. 

The  success  of  the  innovation  was  unqualified.    Before 

it  had  been  in  operation  a  fortnight,  the  scholars  had 

learned  so  to  look  for  the  afternoon  reading  and  to  enjoy 

it,  that  Donald  had  only  to  threaten  to  suspend  it  to 

obtain  perfect  order  in  event  of  disturbing  noises  or  to 

H 


114 


DONALD  grant's  DEV£L0PME> 


;il;,,,,; 


quell  instantly  the  slightest  manifestation  of 
tion. 

Not  only  so,  but  it  became  a  more  powerfu 
of  discipline  than  the  strap ;  for,  as  he  ha 
scholars  distinctly  to  understand  at  the  start, 
was  dependent  upon  their  good  behavior  and 
attentive  to  their  lessons.  The^  had  to  ec 
speak.  Consequently,  when  once  they  came 
a  positive  treat,  they  all,  with  one  accord 
pains  to  prepare  their  lessons  carefully  ani 
well  than  thev  had  ever  done  before. 

"  You  never  gave  me  a  better  bit  of  advic 
Mr.  Patterson,"  said  Donald,  after  reporting 
admirably  the  experiment  had  succeeded, 
positive  pleasure  to  myself  as  well  as  the  s 
they  evidently  enjoy  it  with  all  their  hearts, 
such   funny   questions,  sometimes,  that   yo 
greatly  amused  if  you  could  overhear  them. 
I  never  laugh  at  their  questions,  however  ri 
may  be.    I  encourage  them  to  ask  about 
not  clear  to  them." 

"  That  is  the  idea,  Donald,"  answered  IV 
"  Encourage  them  to  ask.     It  stimulates  t 
powers.     I  am  wonderfully   pleased   at  n 
turning  out  so  well.     I  felt  sure  it  would  i 
and  I  knew  you  would  not  fail  to  give  it  a 

The  success  of  the  readinsf  not  only  excec 
expectations,  but  even  his  desires.  Its  fan 
yond  the  bounds  of  the  school.    The  boys 


i   DEVELOPMEST. 
nanifestation  of  insubordina- 

.  a  more  powerful  implement 
,  •  for,  as  he  had  given  the 
,tand  at  the  start,  the  readmg 
,<,od  behavior  and  their  bem? 
■  The"  had  to  earn  it,  so  to 
n  once  they  came  to  deem  it 
with  one  accord,  took  more 
;sons  carefully  and  to  behave 
jne  before. 

better  bit  of  advice  than  that, 
ad,  after  reporting  to  him  how 
„t  had  succeeded.  "It  is  a 
If  as  well  as  the  scholars;  for 
th  all  their  hearts,  and  they  ask 

.metimes,  that  you  would  be 
uld  overhear  them.  Of  course, 
[estions,  however  ridiculous  they 
Lm  to  ask  about  whatever  .s 

Laid,"  answered  Mr.  Patterson. 

I      It  stimulates  their  thinking 

Lly   pleased  at  my  suggestion 

L  sure  it  would  if  fairly  tned, 

lot  fail  to  give  it  a  fair  trial. 
L.  not  only  exceeded  Donalds 

L  desires.    Its  fame  spread  be- 
school.    The  boys  and  girls  who 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


115 


listened  with  such  interest  to  tales  of  travel  and  adven- 
ture, to  descriptions  of  foreign  countries  and  peoples,  to 
accounts  of  new  inventions,  to  chosen  passages  from  the 
poets,  of  course  went  home  and  told  their  parents  bow 
delightful  it  all  was,  with  the  result  that  ere  long  some 
of  the  parents  became  fired  with  a  desire  to  be  present 
during  that  last  half-hour  of  the  session.  Several  of 
them  approached  Donald  and  preferred  their  request 
for  permission  to  share  the  privileges  their  children  were 
enjoying. 

Donald  was  a  good  deal  surprised  at  first.  He  had 
not  contemplated  anything  more  than  combining  amuse- 
ment with  instruction  for  the  benefit  of  his  scholars ;  and 
the  idea  of  having  a  number  of  old  folks  added  to  his 
hearers  did  not  strike  him  favorablv.  He  consulted  his 
father  and  mother  about  it.  They  at  once  supported  the 
request. 

*'  Whv  should  vou  refuse  it,  Donald  dear  ?  "  said  Mrs. 
Grant.  "  You  would  not  refuse  a  hungry  man  food  if 
you  had  it  to  give  him.  These  people  are  hungry  for 
hrain  food,  and  you  have  it  ready  for  them.  I  am  sure 
you  need  not  make  the  slightest  difference  in  what  you 
read  on  their  account.  They  will  enjoy  what  the  scholars 
enjoy.  My  opinion  is  that  you  would  not  be  doing  rio^ht 
to  say  *  no '  to  them.  Don't  you  think  so,  father  ?  "  turn- 
ing to  her  husband. 

"  I  do,  most  certainly,"  answered  Mr.  Grant.  "  You 
ought  to  feel  highly  complimented,  Donald,  at  grown-up 
people  wanting  to  come  to  your  school.    It  proves  that 


116 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  children  must  carry  good  accounts  of  you  home,  now 
doesn't  it?  And  surely  if  thai,  is  so,  you  have  not  the 
heart  to  shut  the  door  on  those  who  are  so  eager  to  share 
in  the  benefits  their  children  are  receiving.' 

Donald  smiled  and  shook  his  head  in  a  wav  that  im- 
plied  he  confessed  defeat. 

"Tiiere  is  no  doubt  you  are  both  right  and  I  am 
wrong,"  said  he.  "  I  was  not  looking  at  it  in  that  way. 
I  was  just  thinking  what  a  pity  it  was  when  we  were  get- 
ting along  so  comfortably  and  quietly,  to  be  disturbed  by 
a  lot  of  big  people  coming  in.  I  never  took  into  account 
that  it  miglit  be  perhaps  as  much  of  a  pleasure  to  them 
as  it  seems  to  be  to  the  scholars.  I  will  give  it  a  trial, 
anyway,  and  if  it  works  all  right  they  can  come  as  long 
as  they  please." 

So  the  following  day  he  gave  it  out  in  school  that  any 
of  the  parents  of  the  scholars  who  wished  to  be  present 
at  the  reading  would  be  welcome,  and  with  a  good  deal 
of  curiosity  awaited  the  response  that  would  be  made. 
The  next  afternoon  just  before  three  o'clock,  the  regular 
time  for  dismissal  being  half  an  hour  later,  some  half- 
dozen  men  and  women  stepped  quietly  into  the  room  and 
took  their  seats  on  the  vacant  benches  near  the  door. 
Donald  greeted  them  with  a  pleasant  bow,  and  without 
otherwise  drawing  attention  to  their  presence,  took  up 
the  reading  precisely  as  if  they  were  not  there.  He  had 
no  thought  of  making  any  change  in  the  course  marked 
out,  for  that  would  be  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  younger 
scholars,   who  might  thus  be  left  behind.      He  would 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


117 


simply  keep  right  on.  If  the  new  additions  to  the 
school  liked  what  they  heard  and  found  it  worth  coming 
from  their  homes  to  hear,  well  and  good ;  if  they  did  not, 
tliey  need  only  cease  to  come,  and  matters  would  be  just 
where  they  were  before  they  had  preferred  their  request 
for  permission  to  be  present.  At  the  same  time,  Donald, 
naturally  enough,  having  agreed  to  their  coming  was  de- 
sirous that  they  should  be  in  no  hurry  to  go  again.  He 
was  hardly  less  eager  to  hold  them  than  if  he  had  in- 
vited them  to  come. 

The  reading  class  in  its  enlarged  form  proved  a  no  less 
gratifying  success  than  when  it  was  confined  to  the  school. 
Day  by  day  the  number  of  the  grown-up  folk  increased, 
until  the  spare  benches  could  hold  no  more  and  they  had 
to  sit  in  among  the  scholars.  Some  days,  indeed,  so 
many  came  that  the  men  would  have  to  stand,  in  order 
that  all  the  women  might  be  seated. 

Not  only  was  the  attendance  large,  but  the  interest  and 
attention  was  all  that  Donald  could  desire.  Glad,  indeed, 
would  poor  old  Dr.  Sternhold  have  been  to  meet  such  an 
appreciative,  absorbed  audience  on  Sunday  as  Donald 
had  five  afternoons  in  the  week  all  through  the  winter. 
Many  of  those  men  and  women  in  all  their  lives  had  had 
little  other  reading  than  the  local  newspaper, — an  ex- 
ceedingly poor  affair  of  its  kind, — and  the  Bible,  if  they 
were  Protestants ;  while  if  they  were  Roman  Catholics — 
as  many  of  them  were — they  had  had  no  reading  at  all, 
for  the  simple  reason  that  they  did  not  know  how  to 
read.  ,         .       :     .  ■  —         • 


ir~ 


118 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


The  stories  and  articles  tliey  heard  from  Donald's  lips, 
interspersed  as  they  were  with  bright  bits  of  comment  or 
helpful  explanation,  opened  a  new  w^rld  to  tiiem.  The 
horizons  of  their  narrow  lives  were  extended  as  they 
could  not  have  imajrined  before.  Thev  took  home  with 
tljem  for  discussion  at  their  fireside  new  tiioughts  and 
ideas  that  gave  them  something  better  to  talk  about  than 
the  meaningless  incidents  of  their  dull  daily  life. 

Among  those  who  came  were  big  Grant,  the  black- 
smith, and  his  portly  wife.  They  had  no  children  in 
their  home ;  but  they  had  begged  to  be  allowed  to  join 
the  others,  and  of  course  Donald  made  no  objection. 
Although  Mr.  Grant  spoke  only  for  himself,  he  really 
voiced  the  general  feeling  when  he  said  to  the  young 
teacher  one  day :  "  You  are  doing  us  a  great  deal  of 
good,  Donald,  more,  perhaps,  than  you  have  any  idea 
of;  for  vou  are  teachin<r  us  to  think,  and  some  of  us 
needed  a  lesson  of  that  kind  pretty  badly.  Now  just 
look  at  that  Jake  Gillis,"  referring  to  the  father  of  the 
lad  who  had  given  Donald  so  much  trouble ;  a  great, 
rough  man  with  the  head  of  a  bull  and  much  the  same 
sort  of  voice, — a  kind  of  local  bully,  in  fact, — who, 
nevertheless,  a  week  after  the  reading  had  been  thrown 
open,  made  his  way  bashfully  in  one  afternoon  and  never 
missed  a  day  subsequently.  '•  There  is  a  man  who  maybe 
never  thought  much  about  anything  outside  of  his  own 
coarse 'desires  and  commonplace  concerns.  But  you  have 
Bet  him  thinking  just  as  you  have  us  who  ought  to  have 
been  improving  our  minds  all  the  time  they  were  lying 


DONALD  grant's  DEVKLOPMENT. 


119 


fallow  for  want  of  seed.  Giliis  thinks  you  are  a  perfect 
wonder.  Every  word  you  say  is  gospel  to  him.  If  his 
Angus  were  to  attempt  to  give  you  any  trouble  now  he 
would  take  his  ox-whip  to  him.  You  will  never  know, 
Donald,  how  much  good  you  are  doing.  My  wife  and  I 
get  impatient  waiting  for  three  o'clock  to  come.  I  hope 
when  you  give  up  the  school  you  will  make  your  successor 
promise  to  keep  up  the  reading." 

*'  I  am  afraid  I  can  hardly  guarantee  that,"  returned 
Donald,  smiling.  *■  But  I  will  gladly  promise  to  do  my 
best,  for  indeed  I  enjoy  the  reading  class  now  myself 
more  than  any  other  part  of  the  day's  work.  It  is  quite 
fluttering  to  have  so  many  people — nearly  all  as  old  as 
your  own  father  and  mother — listening  to  every  word  you 
utter,  and  always  looking  so  interested." 

In  expressing  himself  thus  Donald  was  not  simply 
trying  to  say  something  pleasant:  he  was  stating  a  fact ; 
for  although  when  first  proposed  he  did  not  at  all  wel- 
come the  notion  of  having  men  and  women  added  to  his 
school,  the  result  had  been  so  entirelv  diflerent  from  his 
expectations,  and  he  had  found  the  marked  appreciation 
of  his  reading  so  gratifying,  that  he  would  now  be  very 
sorry  to  be  without  the  grown-up  folks  of  an  afternoon. 
Their  presence  inspired  him  to  more  care  in  preparation 
and  more  vim  in  the  presentation  of  what  he  had  pre- 
pared. 

"I  am  very  glad  I  took  your  advice,  father/'  said  he 
to  Mr.  Grant  one  evening,  as  he  came  into  the  sitting- 
room  from  his  own  room,  where  he  had  been  getting 


120 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


ready  for  the  next  day'a  reading.  "  Wliether  I  can 
do  the  parents  of  my  scholars  any  good  or  not,  I  cer- 
tainly ara  getting  good  from  having  them  there. 
They  make  me  pay  a  great  deal  more  attention  to 
what  I  am  going  to  read.  I  make  sure  that  I  know 
the  right  meaning  of  all  the  big  words  and  understand 
all  the  references  to  persons  and  places,  so  as  to  be 
ready  for  any  question  that  may  be  asked  ;  and  in  that 
way  I  derive  more  benefit  from  it  myself  than  I  would  if 
I  had  only  the  scholars  to  prepare  for." 

"Ah,  Donald,  my  boy,"  answered  Mr.  Grant,  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  his  son  with  a  look  of  ineffable  tenderness  ani 
pride,  "you  are  learning  one  of  the  most  precious  lessons 
in  life.  'The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat,  and  he  that 
watereth  shall  be  watered  also  himself  You  will  find 
that  in  Proverbs — and  in  all  that  wonderful  storehouse 
of  wit  and  wisdom  tliere  are  no  truer  words.  You  can- 
not help  another  without  helping  yourself  at  the  same 
time." 

"  I  never  thought  of  it  in  that  way  before,  father,"  said 
Donald,  a  happy  light  coming  into  his  face  as  he  spoke  ; 
for  his  father's  word?-  iriive  him  a  great  deal  of  pleasure. 
"  I  must  honestly  confess  that  I  took  a  great  deal  more 
to  heart  the  bother  I  imagined  it  would  be  to  me,  than 
any  advantage  it  might  be  to  them.  But  you  have  made 
me  see  things  in  a  different  light,  and  I  am  glad  you 
have ;  >for  I  do  want  to  be  of  some  use  in  this  world  and 
help  other  people,  just  as  Mr.  Patterson  and  Mr.  Munroe 
have  been  helping  me." 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


121 


I  can 
[  cer- 
there, 
on  to 
know 
rstand 
to  be 
in  that 
mid  if 

is  eyeg 
ess  a'i'i 
lessons 
he  that 
ill  find 
H'ehouse 
ou  cau- 
e  same 


"  So  long  as  you  have  the  disposition  to  help,  Donald," 
returned  Mr.  Grant,  "  never  fear  that  there  will  be  lack 
of  opportunity.  I  don't  want  to  flatter  you,  my  son  : 
but  I  cannot  help  telling  you  that  God  has  given  yot: 
more  than  ordinary  talents  for  helping  your  fellows. 
Just  as  your  playmates  at  school  were  always  glad  to 
let  you  be  their  leader  and  do  your  bidding,  so  will  it  be 
when  you  go  out  into  the  world.  You  will  always  find 
plenty  willing  to  follow  your  lead.  How  careful  you 
must  be,  then,  Donald  dear,  to  lead  in  the  riglit  direction 
— to  help  others  upward  and  not  downward  !  " 

Donald's  face  had  grown  very  thoughtful  while  his 
father  was  speaking.  The  earnest,  loving  words  of  wis- 
dom made  a  deep  impression  upon  him,  and  he  sat  long 
in  his  own  room  that  night  pondering  them  over.  The 
passage  "  for  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,"  came  into  hia 
mind  and  brought  him  face  to  face  with  the  great  prin- 
ciple of  responsibility  for  personal  influence,  which  hence- 
forward was  to  have  a  larger  part  in  his  life  than  it  had 
had  thus  far. 


CHAPTER  XII 


LEAVING   THE  NEST. 


THE  two  years  of  Donald's  service  as  teacher  of  the 
Rivervale  school  slipped  by  far  more  swiftly  than 
he  could  have  believed  when,  all  impatient  to  be  off  to 
the  university,  he  looked  forward  to  them  as  u  great 
chasm  intervening  between  himself  and  the  object  of  his 
desire,  for  the  closing  of  which  he  wondered  how  he 
would  ever  manage  to  wait.  He  had  no  idea  theii  of  the 
compensation  for  the  delay  that  he  would  find  in  his  work, 
and  of  the  inspiration  that  he  would  derive  from  the 
consciousness  of  his  labor  not  being  in  vain. 

There  was  but  one  opinion  in  Rivervale  as  to  the  merits 
of  the  "  boy  schoolmaster," — to  wit,  that  the  school  had 
never  been  better  taught.  So  manifest  were  the  admiriuiuii 
and  respect  with  wliich  not  only  the  scholars,  the  Harbor 
Road  boys  not  excepted,  but  their  parents  regarded  hiiii, 
t^'  it  his  head  might  have  been  turned  were  it  not  for  the 
salutary  counterbalancing  influence  of  his  high  aoibitiou. 
He,  of  course,  found  it  very  pleasant  and  gratifying  to 
be  so  highly  appreciated ;  but  he  clearly  realized  that  the 
standards  of  Rivervale  were  little  guide  to  those  of 
Chebucto,  and  that  even  though  he  might  be  a  triiou 
among  minnows  at  home,  he  would  be  only  a  minnow 

among  tritons  in  the  larger  sphere.    So  in  spite  of  much 
122 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


123 


adulation,  he  managed  to  keep  his  head  reasonably  level, 
thereby  saving  iiimself  many  a  pang  that  would  inevitably 
have  been  his  in  after  days  had  he  accepted  the  estimate 
of  Rivervale. 

During  all  the  time  his  own  studies  had  been  faithfully 
carried  on.  Mr.  Patterson's  kind  interest  never  flagged, 
and  on  very  few  Saturday  mornings  Hid  Donald  fail  to 
present  himself  in  his  study,  eager  to  talk  over  the  work 
and  experience  of  the  week.  Fortunate,  indeed,  was  he 
in  having  such  a  friend  and  counsellor ;  and  many  a  time 
in  after  life  did  his  memory  go  gratefully  back  to  those 
weekly  meetings  when  everything  within  the  range  of  his 
thougbt  and  feeling  could  be  brought  forth  freely  and 
frankly.  Mr.  Patterson  was  so  sincere,  so  trustworthy  a 
confidant. 

The  two  years  brought  little  change  to  the  Grant  home 
beyond  making  its  members  that  much  older.  Hugh 
continued  on  his  quiet  faithful  ways,  an  invaluable  assist- 
ant to  his  father  and  a  constant  comfort  to  his  mother. 
Charlie,  having  continued  at  school  a  year  longer  than 
he  had  intended,  "just  to  back  up  my  brother  in  case  of 
another  rumpus,"  he  took  pleasure  in  saying,  when  the 
second  summer  holidavs  ended  Donald's  term  of  service, 
hardly  knew  what  to  do  with  himself;  and  his  parents 
were  somewhat  concerned  on  his  behalf.  The  desire  to 
go  to  sea  had  grown  stronger  as  he  grew  older.  Indeed, 
a  less  affectionate,  home-loving  boy  would  have  gratified 
it  long  before  by  running  away  if  necessary ;  but  Charlie 
was  too  honest  a  lad  and  loved  his  mother  and  father 


124 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


too  well  to  play  any  such  mean  trick  as  that  upon 
them. 

Hitherto  the  fact  of  Donald  being  at  home  also  had 
helped  to  keep  his  restless  spirit  in  check ;  but  when  the 
time  of  his  favorite  brother's  going  away  to  attend  the 
university  drew  near,  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  must 
take  wing  from  the  family  nest  also.  To  Donald  he 
confided  his  resolution,  and  entreated  his  help  in  obtain- 
ing the  parental  sanction  without  which  he  did  not  want 
to  put  it  into  execution. 

The  two  brothers  had  a  long  and  affectionate  talli 
together,  the  younger  opening  his  heart  to  the  elder  as  he 
had  never  done  before;  and  the  result  of  it  was  that 
Donald  felt  convinced  it  would  be  better  for  Charlie  to 
have  his  own  way  and  make  a  trial  of  the  sea  at  all 
events,  than  to  be  required  to  give  up  what  was  the  ruling 
passion  of  his  life. 

"  It  is  just  this  way,"  Charlie  had  said,  speaking  in  liis 
quicli,  earnest  way ;  '"  my  heart  is  set  upon  going  to  sea 
just  as  yours  is  upon  going  to  the  university.  Suppose 
father  were  to  object  now  to  your  going  to  Chebueto. 
"Wouldn't  it  make  vou  feel  miserable  ?  Well,  it  makes 
me  just  as  miserable  to  have  him  object  to  my  going  to 
sea.  I  hate  the  shop.  I  detest  farming.  lam  not  fit  to 
be  a  school-teacher,  and  if  I  am  not  allowed  to  be  a  sailor, 
I  will  not  be  good  for  anything.  Now,  mother  and  father 
think  more  of  what  you  say  than  of  all  the  rest  of  us  put 
together ;  and  if  you  will  only  tell  them  that  you  think 
I  am  cut  out  for  a  sailor  and  will  never  be  fit  for  any- 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


125 


thing  else,  and  that  I  iiad  better  be  allowed  to  go  to  sea, 
they  will  not  say  another  word  against  it." 

"I  am  afraid  you  give  me  credit  for  having  more 
influence  over  father  and  mother  than  is  really  the  case, 
Charlie,"  said  Donald,  smiling  at  his  brother's  implied 
compliment.  "  But  however  that  may  be,  whatever  my 
opinion  is  worth,  you  shall  have  the  benefit  of  it ;  for  I 
am  certain  now  that  you  ought  to  be  allowed  to  have  your 
wish  in  this  matter.  Perhaps  after  you  have  tried  one 
voyage  you  will  finj  It  quite  enough,  and  be  glad  to  come 
back  and  settle  down  here  or  in  the  village.  But,  at  any 
rate,  you  will  evidently  never  be  content  until  you  have 
found  it  all  out  for  yourself.  So  I  will  speak  to  father 
and  mother,  Charlie,  and  tell  them  what  I  think." 

Charlie  sprang  up  witli  glistening  eyes  and  gave  his 
brother  a  hearty  hug.  Then  standing  before  him,  he  said 
in  a  tone  of  unusual  gravity  that  bespoke  the  depth  of 
his  feelincr:  "Donald,  if  vou  sret  their  consent  I  will 
promise  you — I  will  take  oath  upon  my  Bible,  if  you 
like — to  be  just  the  same  at  sea  as  I  would  be  at  home. 
I  will  never  touch  a  drop  of  liquor.  I  will  never  use  an 
oath,  and  I  will  keep  out  of  bad  company  all  that  I 
know  how." 

Donald  put  his  hands  upon  the  boy's  shoulder,  and 
looking  right  down  into  his  eyes,  said  solemnly :  "  You 
need  not  swear  to  that  upon  your  Bible,  Charlie,  for  I 
know  you  mean  it  with  all  your  heart.  Let  it  be  a  cove- 
nant between  us  that  may  help  you  in  time  of  tempta- 


tion. 


>> 


W' 


126 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


When  Donald  laid  the  matter  before  his  parents  he 
found  them,  as  he  had  expected,  not  easy  to  convince. 
They  both  dreaded  the  sea  because  of  the  perils  to  which 
both  body  and  soul  were  exposed  upon  it ;  and  only  when 
he  made  it  clear  to  them  that  by  thwarting  Charlie's  de- 
sires they  would  in  all  probability  either  drive  him  into 
running  away,  or,  failing  that,  take  all  the  spirit  out  of 
him  and  spoil  his  whole  life,  did  they  very  reluctantly 
give  their  content  to  the  boy  having  his  way. 

Verv  fervent  was  Charlie's  gratitude  ;  and  readilv  did 
he  subscribe  to  all  the  promises  his  anxious  mother  would 
have  him  make,  among  them  being  one  to  the  eft'ect  tliat 
no  matter  by  what  sort  of  people  he  might  be  surrounded, 
he  would  never,  if  at  all  possible,  let  a  day  pass  without 
reading  in  his  Bible  and  offering  prayer  to  God. 

A  few  weeks  after  this  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  home, 
the  squire  having  been  good  enough  to  obtain  a  berth 
for  him  in  one  of  bis  own  ships  then  loading  at  a  port 
some  fifty  miles  distant ;  whitlier  he  went,  full  of  hope,  to 
try  his  fortune  in  the  great  world  that  lies  open  to  the 
adventurous  mariner. 

Not  long  after  came  Donald's  time  for  departure  ;  and 
poor  Mrs.  Grant's  heart  was  heavy  at  the  thought  of 
parting  with  him  also,  wnile  he  was  no  less  eager  for  the 
university  than  Charlie  had  been  for  the  ship.  The 
matriculation  examination  did  not  take  place  until  the 
latter'part  of  October,  but  Mr.  Munroe  had  thoughtfully 
invited  him  to  come  up  a  week  beforehand  in  case  he 
should  find  it  necessary  to  put  some  finishing  touches 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


127 


Upon  his  preparation  for  the  ordeal.  This  invitation 
Donald  gladly  availed  himself  of;  for  despite  his  unre- 
mitting attention  to  his  studies,  he  naturally  felt  a  good 
deal  of  nervousness  in  the  matter. 

The  journey  to  Chebucio  was  full  of  delightful  novelty 
to  him.  First  came  the  long  ride  by  coach  to  New  Edin- 
burgh,— a  very  pleasant  experience  in  the  cool,  bright 
autumn  weather, — and  then  the  run  bv  train  fiom  New 
Edinburgh  to  Chebucto.  Now  this  was  Donald's  first 
acquaintance  with  the  railway,  and  he  found  it  no  easy 
task  to  maintain  his  self-composure  in  the  presence  of 
this  modern  marvel.  He  happened  to  be  standing  on  the 
station  platform  when  the  train  came  thundering  up,  and, 
greatly  to  the  amusement  of  the  spectators,  was  so 
startled  by  its  tremendous  rush  and  roar  that,  dropping 
his  portmanteau,  he  jumped  back  half  a  dozen  feet  and 
stood  staring  at  the  long  line  of  cars  in  open-mouthed 
astonishment.  But  the  next  moment  he  had  recovered 
his  self-possession,  and  joining  in  the  laugh  his  little 
demonstration  had  raised,  he  picked  up  his  bag  and  fol- 
lowed the  procession  of  passengers  into  the  car,  deter- 
mined not  to  be  betrayed  into  any  such  exhibition  of 
"greenness"  again  if  he  could  possibly  help  it.  Yet  as 
the  train  rolled  smoothlv  and  swiftlv  along,  the  novelty 
of  the  whole  thing  so  aroused  his  curiositv  that  he  could 
not  keep  his  seat.  He  went  from  car  to  car  until  he  had 
ins})eett;d  the  whole  train.  He  asked  as  many  questions 
of  the  conductor  and  brakeman  as  he  thought  their 
patience  would  stand.     He  even  ventured  to  inquire  if 


128 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


he  could  possibly  be  permitted  to  ride  in  the  cab  with 
the  driver  for  a  while,  and  finally  he  managed  to  settle 
down  beside  a  pleasant-looking  young  man  who  proved 
willing  to  answer  the  many  inquiries  that  chased  one  an- 
other from  his  eager  tongue. 

How  full  of  interest  and  enjoyment  that  hundred-mile 
ride  was  to  him  he  could  not  have  expressed  in  words, 
but  ha  greur,ly  entertained  his  newly  made  acquaintance 
by  his  b  "ij'h*  id  shrewd  comments  upon  the  places  and 
people  they  pai«sed  in  their  rapid  flight ;  for  altiiough 
there  w»)6  n*  lacV  rf  pride  in  Donald's  composition,  it 
V  OS  not  of  that  fuoiiish  kind  which  would  rather  remain 
in  ignorance  than  court  exposure  by  asking  questions. 
It  never  occurred  to  him  to  feign  a  thorough  familiarity 
with  the  wonders  of  the  railway.  He  was  quite  willing 
that  everybody  should  know  that  he  had  never  been  on 
board  a  car  before,  and  consequently  he  enjoyed  himself 
ever  so  much  more  than  if  he  had  attempted  to  sail 
under  false  colors. 

When  the  train  rolled  into  the  big  brick  station  at 
Ciiebucto,  he  was  standing  on  the  car  platform  looking 
eagerly  into  the  crowd  for  an  expected  face.  He  had 
not  to  look  long.  On  the  outskirts  of  the  throng  stood  a 
slightly  built  young  man  not  many  years  his  senior,  who, 
catching  sight  of  him,  waved  his  hand  in  token  of  wel- 
come, while  a  smile  of  unmistakable  gladness  irradiated 
his  pale  face.  Springing  from  tiie  platform,  Donald 
pressed  toward  him  with  extended  hand,  exclaiming: 
"  Mr.  Munroe,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you !  " 


DONALD  GRANT  8  DEVELOPMENT. 


129 


with 
settle 
iroved 
Qe  an- 

d-mile 
words, 
ntance 
;es  and 
thougli 
tion,  it 
remain 
lestions. 
liliarity 
willing 


k 


een  on 
limself 
to  sail 


"  No  gladder  than  I  ana  to  see  you,  Donald,"  was  the 
answer,  as  Mr.  Munroe  put  his  thin,  delicate  hand  into 
Donald's  sturdy  grasp.  "  I  have  been  looking  forward 
to  your  coming  quite  impatiently.  What  a  splendid 
strong  chap  you  are  I  I  wish  I  had  some  of  your  vigor. 
But,  come  along ;  we  will  get  your  trunk  and  drive  off 
to  my  place.    The  cab  is  waiting  for  us  outside." 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  Donald  was  standing  in 
what  seemed  to  him  the  most  elegant  room  he  had  ever 
seen  in  his  life.  Frederick  Munroe's  uncle  had  been 
simply  a  plain  merchant  with  very  commonplace  ideas ; 
and  when  the  house  came  into  the  nephew's  hands  it  was 
just  like  the  ordinary  dwelling  of  the  well-to-do.  But 
the  new  possessor  did  not  have  it  long  before  he  began  a 
transformation  that,  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of  years, 
so  changed  the  place  as  to  make  it  quite  unrecognizable 
by  Mr.  Munroe,  the  elder,  could  he  have  revisited  his 
former  home.  Everything  that  a  refined  taste  aided  by 
an  ample  income  could  accomplish  had  been  done.  Soft 
carpets  covered  the  floors,  etcliings  and  water  colors  of 
decided  merit  adorned  the  walls,  carved  bookcases,  filled 
with  volumes  in  artistic  binding,  stood  here  and  there, 
rich  portieres  drooped  across  the  door  spaces ;  and  al- 
together the  whole  effect,  although  notably  quiet  and 
subdued,  was  pleasing  in  the  extreme. 

The  handsomest  parlor  that  Donald  had  hitherto  seen 
v.as  Mr.  Patterson's — a  very  pretty  room  in  its  way,  but 
no  preparation  for  the  combination  of  luxury  and 
elegance  Mr.  Munroe's  suite  of  rooms  presented.      After 


r 


130 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


entering  the  house  and  putting  off  his  coat  and  hat,  he 
stood  for  some  rainutes  looking  about  him  while  his  host 
went  off  to  give  directions  about  dinner ;  and  there  and 
then  he  made  a  discovery,  to  wit,  that  he  possessed  the 
faculty  of  artistic  appreciation.  Instead  of  being  awed 
and  put  ill  at  ease  by  all  this  richness  and  beauty,  novel 
as  it  was  to  him,  he  found  himself  responding  to  it  with 
something  like  fervor.  Of  course,  he  could  not  as  yet 
enter  into  the  thousand  and  one  refinements  of  art  that 
together  constituted  so  satisfying  a  tout  ensemble,  but  he 
could,  and  did,  enter  with  all  his  heart  into  the  enjoyment 
of  the  general  effect ;  and  when  Mr.  Munroe  returned  he 
was  as  much  surprised  as  gratified  by  his  appropriate  and 
appreciative  comments. 

"  Why,  Donald,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you  have  the  soul  of 
an  artist,  or  of  an  art  critic,  at  all  events.  You  seem  to 
know  right  off  what  are  the  best  things  in  my  room,  and 
I  am  sure  I  cannot  imagine  where  you  learned  that  at 
Rivervale.    It  must  come  to  you  by  intuition." 

"I  think  it  must,"  responded  Donald,  with  a  little 
laugh  of  pleasure  at  Mr.  Munroe's  words,  "for  I  am  sure 
I  never  saw  so  many  beautiful  things  in  my  life  before; 
although,  of  course,  I  have  read  a  good  deal  about  pic- 
tures and  other  things  in  the  magazines  you  have  sent 
me,  and  perhaps  that  has  helped  me  to  have  right  ideas 
about  them." 

Not  only  was  Mr.  Munroe's  establishment  luxuriously 
furnished,  but  it  was  also  admirably  managed.  Together 
with  the  house,  his  uncle  had  left  him  a  housekeeper— 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


131 


hat,  he 
19  host 
sre  and 
sed  the 
g  awed 
y,  novel 
it  with 
t  as  yet 
art  that 
3,  but  he 
njoyraent 
turned  he 
>riate  and 

soul  of 
u  seeni  to 
•com,  and 
id  that  at 

Ih  a  little 
1 1  am  sure 
ife  before; 
\bout  pic- 
Ihave  sent 
hight  ideas 


ixuriousiy 

Together 

tekeeper— 


an  excellent  woman,  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  who  had 
lost  both  her  husband  and  only  son  many  years  before, 
and  who  had  been  with  the  elder  Mr.  Munroe  for  ten 
years  before  his  death.  The  nephew  was  more  than  glad 
to  retain  her  services.  He  placed  the  entire  management 
of  the  household  affairs  in  her  hands,  paid  her  a  liberal 
salary,  and  thus  enjoyed  a  freedom  from  care  in  that 
direction  such  as  falls  to  the  lot  of  few  in  similar  cir- 
cumstances. 

Half  an  hour  after  their  arrival,  Mrs.  Dodson,  the 
housekeeper,  summoned  them  to  dinner,  and  Donald 
followed  his  host  into  the  dining  room.  Here  everything 
was  on  the  same  scale  of  costly  elegance  as  in  the  drawing 
room ;  and  as  Donald  drew  his  morocco-cushioned  chair 
up  to  the  table  resplendent  with  snowy  linen,  glittering 
glass,  and  shining  silver,  there  came  over  him  a  sense  of 
luxurious  ease  as  novel  as  it  was  delightful.  He  could 
not  help  making  a  mental  comparison  between  the  frugal, 
though  ever  neat  and  wholesome,  board  at  home  and  the 
sumptuous  furnishings  and  fare  now. 

But  these  thoughts  were  quickly  banished  from  his 
mind  as  he  fell  into  a  lively  conversation  with  his  host, 
who  had  many  questions  to  ask  concerning  Riven'ale,  for 
wiiich  place  and  its  people  he  seemed  to  have  a  very 
kindly  feeling.  In  thus  talking  about  home,  Donald  soon 
lost  all  sense  of  strangeness,  and  showed  that  it  would 
not  be  long  before  he  would  adapt  himself  to  his  new 
environment. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


NOVEL  SURROUNDINGS. 


WHEN  Donald  went  to  his  room  that  first  night  at 
Mr.  Munroe's  and  looked  about  upon  the  many 
— to  him  at  least — novel  comforts  and  luxurious  appoint- 
ments, his  feelings  found  vent  in  an  exclamation  of, 
"  Well,  if  I  am  not  one  of  the  luckiest  chaps  in  the 
world.  Just  to  think  of  mv  havint?  such  a  room  as  tills 
all  to  myself  while  I  am  in  Chebucto,  and  living  in  such 
a  beautiful  house.  Why,  I  hardly  know  myself  here. 
I  seem  to  be  a  different  person  altogether." 

At  that  moment  he  caught  sight  of  his  figure  as  it  was 
reflected  in  the  long  pier  glass ;  and  at  once  his  face  fell, 
and  the  exultant  tone  was  gone  as  he  continued,  still 
speaking  his  thought  aloud : 

"No,  I  take  that  back.  I  do  know  mvself.  I  do 
not  think  there  is  much  chance  of  my  forgetting  that 
I  am  Donald  Grant,  from  Rivervale,  so  long  as  I  look 
like  this." 

And  with  a  rueful  expression  he  surveyed  the  image 
he  beheld  in  the  mirror  before  him  and  tried  to  imagine 
how  he  must  look  beside  his  host.  The  contrast  certainly 
was  /very  striking  in  many  ways ;  for  he  was  tall  and 
well-proportioned,  both  face  and  form  bespeaking  energy, 
endurance,  and  high  spirit,  while  his  ruddy  cheeks  and 
132 


DONALD   GRAJ^T^is   DEVJ::LOPME^T. 


133 


night  at 
lie  many 
appoint- 
ation  of, 
)s  in  the 
m  as  this 
cr  in  such 
self  here. 

as  it  was 

face  fell, 

med,  still 

If.    I  do 

;ting  that 

as  I  look 

the  image 

imagine 

certainly 

tall  and 

ig  energy, 

leeks  and 


flashing  eyes  were  sufllcient  proof  of  abundant  health 
and  vigor. 

Mr.  Munroe,  on  the  othe.'  hand,  seemed  of  not  more 
than  medium  height ;  and  his  slight,  almost  fragile  figure, 
pale,  delicate  face,  gentle  gray  eyes,  and  soft,  low  voice, 
altogether  gave  one  the  impression  of  his  being  older  and 
smaller  than  he  reallv  was.  Yet  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he 
stood  but  an  inch  shorter  than  Donald,  and  had  only  four 
more  vears  to  his  credit. 

But  it  was  not  the  physical  contrast  that  stirred  Don- 
ald's mind  as  he  gazed  into  the  glass.  His  thought  lay 
still  more  upon  the  surface.  It  was  the  contrast  in 
clothes  that  concerned  him  and  put  so  sudden  a  damper 
upon  his  enthusiasm. 

Mr.  Munroe  took  pleasure  in  dressing  himself  in  care- 
ful accordance  with  the  prevailing  fashion  and  with  the  ut- 
most good  taste.  Poor  Donald,  although  his  innate  pref- 
erence for  well-fittina:  and  becomins:  habiliments  was  no 
less  strong  than  his  friend's,  had  never  enjoyed  the  oppor- 
tunity of  gratifying  it.  His  garments  had  been  homespun 
and  homemade  until  he  began  teaching ;  and  after  that  he 
hud  nothing  better  to  count  upon  than  the  very  op'^er- 
tain  attempts  of  old  Selvage,  the  only  tailor  BeecLmjjunt 
could  boast,  to  make  him  a  suit  that  could  be  reasonably 
considered  a  decent  fit. 

"It  is  no  use  talking,"  he  soliloquized,  turning  this 
^vay  and  that  in  order  to  get  a  view  of  himself  on  all 
sides.  "These  clothes  won't  do  for  Chebucto.  I  must 
get  something  better  right  away,  or  I  will  have  no  peace 


134 


DONALD  GRANX'b  DEVELOPMENT. 


of  mind — or  body,  either,  for  that  matter."  And  then, 
having  comforted  him^-elf  somewhat  by  this  resolution, 
he  proceeded   to  take  off  the  uusatist'actory  riu:<, 

throwing'  them  down  as  though  he  wished  very  mucii  lie 
might  never  see  them  again. 

At  breakfast  the  next  morning  he  broached  the  subject 
to  his  host  who,  with  quick  instinct,  entered  into  his 
feeiiugs  in  the  matter  and  gave  him  some  vt  7  sage 
counsel. 

"  You  need  not  concern  yourself  much  abo'  i  your 
clothes,  Donald,"  he  said,  with  a  pleasant  smile  f  syin- 
patliy.  "  Tiiey  are  not  taken  into  account  at  the  aniver- 
eity.  Nearly  all  the  students  come  in  from  th'~  untiy, 
and  just  wear  plain  homespun  like  yourself.  ..  *ever, 
perhaps  you  might  as  well  get  one  suit  forocca  '  "*'^  when 
you  want  to  look  your  best ;  so  we  will  drop  in  at  ni; 
tailors  this  morning  and  you  can  order  whatever  pleases 
you  best." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  Mr.  Muuroe,"  exclaimed  Donald, 
joyfully.  "I  laid  out  to  get  one  new  suit  while  I  was 
here,  you  know,  and  to  have  it  made  at  your  tailor's ; 
and  that  means  perfect  satisfaction,  I  am  sure,  and  not 
everlasting  fault-finding  as  has  been  the  case  with  old 
Selvage." 

Accordingly,  the  same  morning  they  paid  a  visit  to  the 
sartorial  artists  whom  Mr.  Munroe  patronized,  and  Don- 
ald Wt  his  order  for  a  suit,  the  price  of  which  seemed 
to  him  surprisingly  reasonable,  considering  the  quality 
of  cloth  and  style  of  make-up.    He  never  suspected  that 


DONALD  gram's   DEVELOPMENT. 


135 


id  then, 

solution, 

rnts, 

nuch  he 

5  subject 
into  his 
•y   .sage 

T  i  your 
f  syni- 
3  aniver- 
untry, 
.  .ever, 
in«i  when 
u  at  luj 
V  pleases 

Donald, 
le  I  was 
tailor's ; 
and  not 
with  old 

jit  to  the 

nd  Dou- 

seenied 

quality 

cted  that 


hia  munificent  friend  had,  in  an  unnoticed  aside,  directed 
that  half  the  charge  should  be  put  into  his  own  account. 

'*  Now,"  said  Mr.  Munroe,  "  when  you  get  into  those 
clothes  you  will  be  as  well-dressed  as  any  man  need  be ; 
aiul  there  is  no  doubt  the  knowledge  of  that  does  coutri- 
i)Ute  a  good  deal  to  a  fellow's  peace  of  mind.'* 

"  Indeed  it  does,"  laugiied  Donald.  "  I  am  quite 
enough  of  a  country  bumpkin  in  my  looks  and  manners, 
and  1  do  not  want  to  proclaim  the  fact  still  more  obtru- 
sively by  my  clothes  if  I  can  help  it." 

During  the  next  few  days,  under  his  host's  guidance, 
Donald '•  did  the  lions  "  of  ChebucLo.  There  was  much 
to  delight  him  about  the  city.  The  spacious,  beautiful 
harbor  with  the  stately  ships  riding  at  anchor  on  its 
blue-green  bosom ;  the  miles  of  wharves  and  piers 
crowded  with  all  kinds  of  craft  and  alive  with  commer- 
cial '  ostle  and  activity ;  the  mighty  fortress  which  rose 
above  the  citv  or  commanded  the  entrance  to  the  bar- 
bor,  the  huge  cannon  looking  out  threateningly  through 
the  dark  embrasures ;  the  long  lines  of  shops,  gay  with 
goods  invitingly  displayed  and  thronged  with  people  ever 
coming  and  going.  To  him,  fresh  from  the  fields,  "  with 
the  hayseed  still  in  his  hair,"  as  the  saying  is,  these  sights 
were  full  of  delightful  novelty  ;  and  day  by  day  he  felt 
growing  stronger  within  him  the  determination  to  find  a 
place  for  himself  in  this  city  when  his  course  of  study 
was  finished ;  for  he  felt  that  he  could  never  return  to 
the  country  and  there  be  content  to  spend  his  life. 

But  beside  making  the  acquaintance  of  the  city  that 


^<«MV 


136 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


was  to  be  his  home  for  the  next  few  years,  save  during 
the  summer  vacations,  he  was  busy  completing  his  prepa- 
ration for  the  examinations  so  near  at  hand.  He  had 
two  objects  in  view  upon  which  his  heart  was  sirongly 
set.  These  were  first,  the  winning  of  the  countrv  schol- 
arship,  which  would  entitle  him  to  a  remission  of  class 
fees  and  thus  save  him  a  good  deal  of  expense ;  and 
second,  to  pass  well  enough  to  take  advanced  standing — 
that  is,  to  be  permitted  to  pass  by  the  Freshman  year  and 
enter  at  once  into  the  Sophomore  class. 

He  was  now  nineteen.  If  he  won  advanced  standincr 
he  would  be  twenty-two  when  he  graduated,  quite  old 
enough,  it  seemed  to  him,  to  be  beginning  for  one's  self 
in  the  world ;  especially  as  he  liked  to  hope  that  even 
then  his  studies  would  not  cease,  but  that  somehow  he 
might  be  able  to  arrange  for  a  post-graduate  'jourse  in 
England  or  one  of  the  great  continental  universities. 

A  week  after  his  coming  to  Chebucto  the  examination 
took  place.  Mr.  Munroe  accompanied  him  to  the  uni- 
versity, and  bade  him  "good-bye  and  good  luck  "  as  he 
parted  with  him  at  the  door.  The  larjre  librarv  room  was 
used  as  an  examination  hall,  and  feeling  very  anxious 
and  nervous  desr  his  previous  experience  of  the  same 
ordeal,  Donald  >\ent  in  and  took  his  seat  at  one  of  the 
long  tables,  where  paper,  pens,  and  ink  were  placed  in 
readiness. 

He' was  a  little  earlv,  and  had  time  to  look  about  him 
and  to  try  and  still  his  throbbing  pulses.  Only  one  of 
the  professors  was   present,  a  short,  stout,  round-fared 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


137 


during 
3  prepa- 
He  had 
sironirlv 
•V  schoi- 
of  class 
ise ;  and 
nding — 
jrear  and 

standing 
(uite  old 
lie's  self 
lat  even 
lehow  lie 
;ourse  in 
ities. 
mination 
the  uni- 
: "  as  he 
•oom  was 
anxious 
he  same 
e  of  the 
aced  in 

lOut  him 
one  of 
nd-fared 


man,  who  moved  about  in  an  energetic  way,  but  took  no 
more  notice  of  the  different  candidates  sitting  uneasily 
at  their  places  and  studying  him  with  curious  eyes,  than 
he  did  of  the  books  that  stood  in  rows  upon  the  shelves. 

Of  the  candidates  for  matriculation  there  were  nearlv 
a  score,  who  came  in  one  by  one  until  the  tables  were  well 
filled,  the  stout  professor  taking  good  care  that  no  two 
were  sufficiently  close  together  to  be  able  to  render  one 
another  assistance.  Donald  examined  his  companions, 
who  were  soon  to  be  his  competitors,  with  keen  interest. 
Tiiey  were,  with  few  exceptions,  country  lads  like  himself, 
and  as  a  rule  his  seniors.  Only  four  out  of  the  twenty 
seemed  from  their  general  appearance  to  belong  to  the 
city.  Of  the  others,  one  in  particular  impressed  him  very 
much  by  his  real  or  assumed  indifference  to  the  situation. 
He  appeared  to  feel  quite  at  home,  and  not  to  entertain 
the  slightest  doubt  as  to  his  getting  through  trium- 
phantly. Donald  regarded  him  with  a  feeling  akin  to 
envy. 

'•He  can't  feel  very  anxious  about  the  examination," 
he  thought  to  himself,  "  or  he  Avould  not  take  things  so 
coolly.  I  wonder  whether  he  comes  from  the  country  or 
from  the  city.  If  he  comes  from  the  country,  and  really 
knows  as  much  as  he  seems  to  think  he  does,  I  am  afraid 
I  have  not  much  chance  for  the  scholarship."' 

There  were  always  two  scholarships  awarded  at  the 
heginning  of  each  college  term,  one  being  open  only  to  the 
city  candidates,  and  the  other  to  those  from  the  country. 
Donald  had  therefore  nothing  to  fear  from  the  city  lads, 


r" 


138 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


however  well  they  might  be  prepared  ;  but  indeed  could 
he  have  had  his  choice,  he  would  have  much  preferred 
that  it  was  with  them  he  had  to  compete ;  for  they  were 
only  four  in  number,  and  all  of  them  looked  as  though 
they  were  not  much  given  to  hard  study. 

At  sharp  ten  o'clock  the  prompt  professor,  '  o  may 
now  be  properly  introduced  as  Professor  Macdonueli, 
rapped  upon  the  desk  to  command  attention,  and  then 
proceeded  to  give  his  very  nervous  hearers  the  necessary 
directions  as  to  the  conduct  of  the  examinations.  They 
were  not  to  hold  the  slightest  communication  with  each 
other ;  they  were  not  to  make  use  of  any  helps  in  answer- 
ing the  questions ;  and  as  soon  as  they  had  finished  their 
work,  they  were  to  fold  their  papers  neatly  together  and 
hand  them  in  to  him  as  they  passed  out  of  the  room. 
Having  thus  delivered  himself,  Professor  Macdonnell 
handed  to  each  candidate  a  printed  slip  upon  which  were 
the  questions  to  be  answered  that  morning. 

As  soon  as  Donald  received  his  slip  and  ran  his  eyes 
hurriedly  over  it,  his  heart  leaped  within  him  for  joy. 
The  subjects  were  Greek  and  Latin  ;  and  a  quick  glance 
down  the  list  of  questions  was  sufficient  to  tell  him  ihaf. 
in  his  faithful  preparation  under  Mr.  Patterson's  direc- 
tions, he  had  gone  far  ahead  of  the  requirements  of  the 
examination  paper,  ;ind  would  have  little  difficulty  in 
disposing  of  the  list  as  rapidly  as  he  could  write  down  his 
answ(irs. 

Having  satisfied  himself  of  this,  he  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  to  glance  around  at  the  others  before  settling 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


139 


down  to  work.  It  was  very  evident  that  they  did  not  all 
share  his  enviable  frame  of  niind.  Some  were  studying 
their  slips  as  though  they  could  not  catch  the  import  of 
all  the  questions ;  others  wore  a  dejected  expression  that 
seemed  to  say :  "  This  paper  is  too  hard  for  me ; "  others 
still  were  gazing  around  apparently  seeking  inspiration 
from  the  book-lined  walls ;  while  a  very  few,  and  among 
them  the  over-confident  one  who  had  attracted  Donald's 
attention  before,  were  already  hard  at  work  upon  the 
answer  to  the  first  question.  With  a  very  hopeful  feeling 
Donald  followed  their  example,  and  soon  all  heads  were 
bent  over  the  tables  and  pens  were  scratching  busily. 

Three  hours  were  allowed  for  the  answering  of  the 
questions ;  but  at  the  end  of  two  Donald  had  cleared  his 
paper,  and  with  a  sigh  of  relief  he  laid  down  his  pen  and 
leaned  back  in  his  chair  to  look  about  him,  with  a  very 
comfortable  sense  of  having  done  as  well  as  he  knew  how. 
At  once  the  professor's  sharp  eye  was  upon  him,  and  with 
a  marked  Scotch  accent  he  inquired  : 

"Have  you  finished  your  pa])ers?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Donald. 

"  Then  please  hand  in  your  answers,"  said  the  pro- 
fessor ;  "  and  you  need  not  return  until  two  o'clock,  wiien 
the  examination  in  mathematics  will  be  held." 

Amid  the  envious  looks  of  those  who  were  still  strug- 
gling in  a  sea  of  difficulties,  Donald  gathered  up  the 
sheets  of  foolscap  lie  had  covered,  put  them  neatly 
together,  and  laid  them  on  the  desk.  He  wjis  the  first  to 
finish,  and  Professor  Macdouneli  gave  a  quick  glance 


140 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


first  at  the  answers  then  at  himself  as  he  passed  the  desk. 
In  both  cases  the  result  seemed  to  be  satisfactory ;  for 
his  voice  had  a  very  pleasant  tone,  as  he  said : 

"  You  have  finished  your  work  quickly.  I  trust  you  have 
done  all  you  could." 

"Oh,  yes,  sir,"  answered  Donald,  feeling  pleased  at 
the  question.  *'  I  have  been  a  good  deal  farther  in  the 
classics  than  the  questions  go." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  returned  the  professor,  regard- 
ing him  with  manifest  interest.  "  You  will  find  it  a 
great  advantage  in  your  course  to  have  a  good  start." 

Just  then  the  young  fellow  who  assumed  to  be  so  en- 
tirely at  liis  ease  plumped  down  his  answers  in  a  very 
pompous  way  upon  the  desk,  and  Donald  went  on  into 
the  hall,  whence  he  hurried  off*  to  find  Mr.  Muuroe.  As 
it  happened,  they  met  in  the  street  not  far  from  the 
university. 

"Hello!  Donald,  what  luck?"  the  latter  asked  as 
soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  him. 

"  Not  so  bad  thus  far,"  replied  Donald,  pulling  out  the 
questi(m  paper  and  putting  it  into  Mr.  Munroe's  hands. 
"  I  answered  every  question  inside  of  two  hours ;  and  I 
am  pretty  sure  I  answered  them  right  too,  for  you  know 
I  went  over  all  that  work  with  Mr.  Patterson  more  than 
a  year  ago." 

Mr.  Munroe  glanced  over  the  slip.  "  So  you  cleared 
the  paper,  eh  ?  "  he  said.  "  Well,  all  I  can  say  is  that  if 
your  answers  are'correct  and  you  do  as  well  in  the  other 
examinations,  you  are  pretty  safe  for  both  the  scholarship 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


141 


and  the  second  year ;  for  this  is  the  toughest  paper  I  have 
ever  seen  set  at  matriculation." 

Donald  listened  to  this  with  kindling  eyes. 

*'  You  don't  mean  to  say  so,"  he  cried.  "  The  toughest 
paper  you  have  ever  seen  at  the  matriculation  examina- 
tion, and  it  did  not  bother  rae  one  bit  to  answer  it  from 
beginning  to  end !   I  wonder  how  that  other  fellow  got 


C  »' 


along  ? 

"  What  other  fellow  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Muuroe. 

Donald  then  described  the  tall  student  who  had  made 
such  a  show  of  confidence  and  composure,  and  went  on  to 
give  his  impression  of  the  whole  proceeding,  amusing  his 
companion  very  much  by  his  naive  and  shrewd  comments 
upon  what  had  attracted  his  attention,  not  sparing  even 
the  awe-inspiring  Professor  Macdonnell.  In  the  after- 
noon came  the  examination  in  mathematics.  Kow, 
Donald  had  not  as  much  liking  for  this  branch  of  study 
as  he  had  for  either  classics  or  English.  Alsrebra  was 
his  especial  bugbear ;  and  when  the  question  slip  came 
into  his  hands  he  glanced  over  it  in  nervous  haste  to  see 
how  many  questions  there  were  in  this  subject.  Happily 
for  him  there  were  but  three,  and  of  these  he  succeeded 
in  answering  two  tolerably  well ;  the  other  he  left  un- 
attempted. 

On  the  following  morning  the  examination  in  the 
English  branches  took  place,  and  once  more  Donald  felt 
at  his  ease.  Not  only  had  he  a  decided  taste  for  this  line 
of  study,  but  Mr.  Patterson  was  especially  strong  in  it ; 
and  together  they  had  gone  over  the  whole  work  of  the 


142 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


first  two  years  in  the  university  curriculum.  Con- 
sequently, he  had  little  difficulty  in  again  clearing  the 
paper. 

This  ended  the  examination,  and  then  came  the  anx- 


ious -vaiting  for  the  result. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


A   GOOD  START  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

THE  results  of  the  entrance  examinations  at  Chebueto 
University  would  be  made  known  on  Monday  morn- 
ing at  ten  o'clock.  In  the  long,  narrow,  dreary  hall  of  the 
building,  just  facing  the  front  door,  stood  a  blackboard, 
which  was  the  medium  of  communication  between  the 
grave  and  reverend  senate  and  the  students.  Upon  it, 
written  out  in  the  round  clerkly  hand  of  Professor  Mac- 
donnell,  appeared  the  lists  that  were  messengers  of  joy  or 
sorrow,  of  keen  exultation  or  still  keener  disappointment, 
to  those  whose  fate  stood  recorded  upon  them. 

One  of  the  earliest  to  present  himself  at  the  door  of  the 
university,  not  yet  open,  was  Donald  Grant,  looking  ex- 
ceedingly well  in  the  suit  of  clothes  made  for  him  by  Mr. 
Munroe's  tailor,  and  not  unconscious  of  that  fact,  either. 
On  the  contrary,  the  sense  of  being  so  well  attired  was 
strong  enough,  in  its  pleasing  influence,  to  mitigate  the 
intensity  of  his  impatience ;  and  he  rather  enjoyed  the 
waiting  at  the  tightly  shut  door,  since  it  gave  him  an 
opportunity  to  institute  comparisons  between  himself  and 
those  who  shared  the  waiting,  with  the  result  expressed 
(mentally,  of  course)  in  the  following  ejaculation  : 

'*  Well,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  a  countrified  look  for  a 
while,  anyway,  no  matter  what  clothes  I  put  on  ;  but  I 

148 


144 


DONALD  QP^ANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


have  this  to  comfort  me,  at  all  events,  that  I  cannot  look 
more  countrified  than  some  of  these  other  fellows." 

While  occupying  himself  with  this  somewhat  Pharisa- 
ical line  of  thought,  the  door  was  opened  and  the  crowd 
of  students  pressed  eagerly  into  the  hall,  making  a  greac 
clatter  on  the  smooth  stone  pavement.  Donald  was  in 
the  forefront  of  the  throng,  which  jammed  him  up  so 
close  to  the  blackboard  that  he  could  hardly  get  room  to 
read  off  the  lists. 

There  were  four  of  them:  three  long  ones  and  a  short 
one.  Somehow,  his  ra'cs  turned  first  to  the  short  one. 
Its  announcements  w^re  as  follows  :  "  The  Citv  Scholar- 
ship,"  Arthur  Anderson ;  "  The  Country  Scholarship," 
Donald  Grant;  "Admitted  to  Advanced  Standing," 
Donald  Grant. 

There  was  no  need  for  Donald  to  look  at  the  longer 
lists.  Thev  could  tell  him  nothinc'  better  than  the  short 
one  had  already  told  him.  His  highest  hopes  were  real- 
ized, and  in  the  supreme  happiness  of  the  moment  it 
seemed  as  thousrh  he  must  danco  and  shout  for  verv  jov. 

"  Thank  God !  "  he  exclaimed,  fervently,  turning  his 
back  upon  the  blackboard,  and  urging  his  way  out  of 
the  close-packed  group  with  his  face  so  illuminated  with 
delight  that  the  others  could  not  help  noticing  him  ;  and 
while  he  stood  for  a  moment  hesitating  as  to  what  he 
should  do  first  and  too  bewildered  by  gladness  to  be  able 
to  decide,  one  of  them,  a  handsome,  well-dressed,  prepos- 
sessing young  fellow,  approached  him  with  outstretched 
hand. 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


1  45 


Dt  look 

harisa- 
!  crowd 
a  greac 
was  in 
1  up  so 
room  to 

a  short 
ort  one. 
Scholar- 
iarship," 
anding," 

le  longer 
:he  short 
[ere  real- 
)meiit  it 
rerv  iov. 
Ining  hi3 
out  of 
Ited  with 
im;  and 
what  he 
be  able 


"You  look  sohappv,"said  he,  smiling  pleasantly,  "  that 
vou  must  be  Donald  Grant.  If  I  am  correct,  let  us  shake 
hands  over  our  good  luck.     I  am  Arthur  Anderson." 

Returning  the  smile  with  interest,  Donald  warmly 
grasped  the  extended  hand.  "  You  are  correct,  Mr. 
Anderson  ;  I  am  Donald  Grant,  and  I  congratulate  you 
upon  your  success." 

**  Thank  you,  very  much,"  replied  Arthur  Anderson. 
"I  don't  mind  saying  I  am  more  pleased  about  it  than 
ever  I  was  over  anything  in  my  life  before.  Father 
promised  me  a  yacht  next  summer  if  I  succeeded,  thinking 
to  himself,  no  doubt,  that  he  would  never  be  called  upon 
to  redeem  his  promise  ;  but  I  put  in  a  tremendous  amount 
of  grinding  just  before  the  examinations,  and  that  carried 
me  through.  How  did  you  come  out  in  the  different 
subjects  ?  " 

"  I  never  stopped  to  look,"  answered  Donald.  '•  I  must 
go  back  now  and  see." 

There  were  not  so  many  at  the  board  by  this  time,  and 
he  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  to  the  lists.  As  he  had 
anticipated,  he  had  done  best  in  English,  and  second  best 
in  classics.  In  these  two  subjects  he  stood  many  points 
above  anv  of  the  other  candidates  ;  but  in  mathematics 
he  was  onlv  third  in  the  list,  althouirh  still  well  up  in  the 
first  class.  Having  passed  first  class  throughout,  his 
general  average  being  over  the  eighty-five  per  cent  re- 
quired, he  had  fairly  won  his  way  into  the  second  year, 
thus  saving  himself  a  whole  year's  study  and  expense  ;  a 
matter  of  no  small  importance  to  one  who  had  only  his 

K 


146 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


own  slender  earnings  to  depend  upon  to  carry  liira  through 
college. 

"  You  have  done  well  all  around,  I  see,  Mr.  Grant," 
remarked  Arthur  Anderson  at  his  side.  "A  good  deal 
better  than  I  have.  It  is  well  for  me  that  we  were  not 
trying  for  the  same  scholarship,  or  I  am  afraid  my  yacht 
would  never  be  built.  But  now,  hurrah  for  *  a  wet  sheet 
and  a  flowing  sea  and  a  wind  that  follows  fast.'  "  And 
after  executing  several  steps  of  a  hornpipe  in  a  lively 
fashion,  he  caught  Donald  by  the  arm,  exclaiming :  "  Let 
us  go  out  into  the  fresh  air.  This  place  is  not  big  enough 
for  me,  the  way  I  feel  at  this  moment." 

Nothing  loath,  for  he  had  taken  an  instantaneous 
liking  to  his  new  acquaintance  and  could  not  help  feeling 
flattered  at  his  evident  desire  to  strike  up  a  friendship, 
Donald  went  out  with  him  to  the  street.  They  sauntered 
along  together,  he  quite  forgetting,  as  they  vivaciously 
discussed  their  different  methods  of  preparation  and  con- 
fided in  one  another  their  plans  for  the  future,  that  he 
should  have  hastened  off  to  give  Mr.  Munroe  the  good 
news,  as  was  his  first  intention ;  and  that  his  good  friend 
was  no  doubt  waiting  eagerly  at  home,  where  a  slight 
touch  of  illness  confined  him,  to  hear  the  results  in  which 
he  felt  such  interest. 

Presently  they  came  to  a  very  attractive-looking  res- 
taurant, and  Arthur  Anderson  at  once  turned  in,  saying 
in  all  off'-handed  manner:  "  Come  in,  and  let  us  celebrate 
our  success." 

Donald,  new  to  the  ways  of  the  city,  and  innocent  of 


DOXALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


147 


all  danger  in  accepting  the  invitation,  went  in,  and  they 
took  their  seats  at  one  of  the  marble-topped  tables  that 
were  scattered  over  the  handsome  room  in  the  rear,  to 
which  Anderson  made  his  way  with  the  air  of  a  habitue. 

Tlie  waiter  at  once  bustled  up,  and  was  given  an  order 
tlie  purport  of  which  Donald  did  not  catch.  He  was 
gone  a  little  while,  and  then  returned  bearing  upon  his 
tray  a  big  bottle,  wrapped  in  a  white  napkin,  and  two 
wine-glasses  that  looked  fragile  enough  to  be  shivered  by 
one's  breath. 

"  Ah,  ha !  "  exclaimed  Anderson,  as  the  bottle  and 
glasses  were  placed  upon  the  table.  "  This  is  the  stuff. 
I  don't  often  indulge  in  a  bottle  of  fizz.  It  comes  too 
high  ;  but  nothing  else  is  worthy  of  the  present  occasion." 
Then,  filling  up  the  glasses  with  a  light  golden  fluid  the 
like  of  which  his  companion  had  never  seen  before,  and 
which  looked  most  enticing  as  it  foamed  and  fizzed  and 
sparkled  before  his  eyes,  Anderson  lifted  his  glass,  saying: 
"Here's  to  to-day's  triumphs  and  future  successes." 

Donald  half  mechanically  followed  his  example;  but  as 
the  brimming  glass  neared  his  face,  he  caught  the  scent 
of  its  bubbling  contents,  and,  with  a  sudden  start,  returned 
the  glass  to  the  table  so  quickly  as  to  narrowly  escape 
smashing  it  upon  the  smooth  marble. 

"  Isn't  this  wine  ?  "  he  asked,  his  face  flushing  as  he 
spoke. 

"  Wine !  of  course  it  is ;  the  very  best  of  wine — 
champagne !  "  cried  Anderson,  a  little  nettled  at  the 
question. 


f^ 


X^v^-^ 


-  it: 


148 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


"  Then,  if  you  please,  I  will  not  drink  any,"  returned 
Donald,  pushing  his  glass  away  from  him.  "  I  never 
drink  wine." 

For  a  moment  Anderson  seemed  on  the  verge  of 
saying  something  insulting.  His  lips  curled  in  a  smile 
of  contempt,  and  his  eyes  flashed  dangerously  ;  but  re- 
straining himself  by  an  evident  effort,  he  managed  to  ask, 
politely  enough  : 

"  You  are  not  one  of  those  teetotallers  that  go  to  lodge 
meeting  every  week,  are  you?" 

Donald  laughed  good-humoredly. 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not.  I  never  belonged  to  a 
lodge.  Indeed,  for  that  matter,  I  never  signed  a  pledge ; 
but  I  never  touch  wine  or  any  kind  of  strong  drink,  all 
the  same." 

Anderson's  face  fell.  He  had  expected  to  enjoy  his 
bottle  of  champagne  with  his  new  acquaintance,  and  to 
his  dismay  found  himself  vis-a-vis  to  what  he  would  call 
"  one  of  the  cold-water  crowd."  It  was  reallv  too  bad, 
and  he  could  not  accept  the  situation  without  makirni 
another  trial  to  have  Donald  drink  with  him.  So  putting 
on  his  most  engaging  manner,  he  said : 

"Well,  if  you  have  not  taken  tbf^  ^  ,re,  you  are  at 
liberty  to  do  as  you  please ;  and  si  there  can     e  no 

objection  to  a  sociable  glass  of  cliaiii|/;vgnp   in  honor  of 
your  having  done  so  well  at  the  university.  ' 

Biit  Donald  by  this  time  was  thoroughly  master  of 
himself,  and  determined  to  get  out  of  the  restaurant  as 
quickly  as  he  could  without  being  rude  to  Anderson. 


■■ 


returned 
I  never 

erge  of 
1  a  smile 
;  but  re- 
d  to  ask, 


^,  '  • 


to  lodge        ji 


^ed  to  a 
L  pledge ; 
rink,  all 


enjoy  his 
3,  and  to 
ould  call 
too  bad, 
;  making 
o  putting 


ou  are  at 
an  e  no 
honor  of 


1  aster  of 
aurant  as 
rson. 


■ 


?'Sii"'' 


;, „ji'v.n!:';'ii 


Douald  Grant. 


Page  1-19. 


1 1  p 


m 

M 


P 


K-rr,y 


DONALD  GLAKT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


149 


"If  you  don't  miud,  Mr.  Anderson,"  he  replied,  in 
a  tone  whose  decision  could  not  be  mistaken,  "I  had 
rather  not.  I  don't  intend  to  touch  wine  as  long  as  I 
live." 

Auderson  emptied  his  glass  before  speaking  again,  and 
then  with  an  injured  air  got  up  from  his  seat,  saying: 

"Well,  of  course,  I  don't  want  to  have  you  drink 
against  your  wishes.  We  will  leave  the  rest  of  the  bottle 
to  the  waiter." 

Feeling  regret  at  his  companion's  chagrin,  but  alto- 
gether satisfied  as  to  the  rightfulness  of  hiii  owi)  action, 
Donald  gladly  left  the  restaurant.  The  two  walked  on 
together  for  a  block,  but  both  felt  the  situation  to  be  one 
of  constraint,  and  by  mutual  consent  they  parted  at  the 
first  corner.  Donald  hurried  oflT  to  Mr.  Munroe's,  being 
now  conscious  of  a  feeling  of  shamefacedness  in  that  he 
had  delayed  even  for  a  moment  in  bringing  him  the 
news  that  he  well  knew  would  be  so  welcome  to  him. 

Mr.  Munroe  was  sitting  in  the  bow  window  of  the 
parlor,  looking  out  expectaL .  y  into  the  street,  as  Donald 
bounded  up  the  steps  all  out  of  breath ;  for  he  had  run 
a  good  part  of  the  way  in  order  to  make  up  for  his  loiter- 
ing in  Anderson's  company. 

"  Hello  I  here  you  are  at  last,  Donald ! "  he  cried, 
when  the  latter  came  into  the  room,  hot  and  panting. 
"  You  were  so  long  coming,  I  began  to  fear  lest  you  might 
not  have  good  news  to  tell.  But  I  think  it  must  be  all 
right,  you  look  so  jubilant." 

"  All  right  as  possible,"  cried  Donald,  too  excited  to 


It 


160 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


sit  down.   "  I  have  won  the  country  scholarship  and  have 
been  admitted  into  the  second  year." 

Mr.  Munroe  sprang  from  his  easy  chair  and  threw  his 
arms  around  Donald's  neck. 

"You  splendid  fellow!  "  he  exclaimed,  enthusiastically. 
*'  You  make  me  feel  proud.  A  thousand  congratulations 
upon  your  brilliant  success.  Here."  giving  him  a  push 
into  a  chair  opposite  his  own,  "sit  down  :.bere  and  tell 
me  all  about  1«." 

Donald  sat  down  and  proceeded  to  give  the  full  par- 
ticulars, not  only  of  the  results  of  the  examinations,  but 
also  of  his  acquaintance  with  Arthur  Anderson  and  what 
it  had  led  to. 

Mr.  Munroe's  countenance  as  he  listened  to  the  latter 
part  of  the  narration  betokened  mingled  amusement  and 
approbation,  and  when  Donald  had  finished,  he  clapped 
him  on  the  knee,  saying : 

"  You  did  well,  Donald,  my  boy^  you  did  well.  It 
would  have  been  an  ill  beginning  for  you  to  celebrate 
your  success  by  drinking  champagne  at  Roulard's  with 
Arthur  Anderson.  I  don't  pretend  to  be  a  teetotaller, 
but  I  do  detest  this  drinking  at  bars  and  restaurants. 
Anyway,  Arthur  Anderson  is  not  the  right  kind  of  a 
college  chum  for  you,  and  I  am  very  glad  you  put  a 
check  upon  his  advances." 

He  then  went  on  to  explain  that  Arthur  Anderson 
was  'the  only  son  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  merchants  in  the 
city,  and  had  been  brought  up  amidst  gayety  and  luxury, 
which  made  his  success  as  a  student  all  the  more  remark- 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


151 


able.  He  had  been  a  wild  boy,  always  getting  iuto 
scrapes  of  some  kind,  and  promised  to  be  a  still  wilder 
man,  being  allowed  plenty  of  pocket  money  and  his  own 
w  ay  so  long  as  it  did  not  directly  cross  his  father's.  This 
he  was  politic  enough  to  carefully  avoid.  Altogether, 
he  was  not  a  suitable  companion  for  Donald ;  and  the 
latter,  while  feeling  some  regret  that  so  attractive  a  young 
man  should  have  such  drawbacks,  fully  agreed  with  Mr. 
Munroe  that  the  less  he  had  to  do  with  him  in  future 
the  better. 

The  day  after  the  announcement  of  the  results  came 
the  formal  opening  of  the  university,  which  Donald 
greatly  enjoyed.  It  took  place  with  a  good  deal  of  pomp 
and  ceremony  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  the  students 
gathering  at  the  university  and  marching  thither  in  a 
body,  headed  by  the  principal  and  the  professors  in  full 
regalia,  their  black  gowns  pleasantly  touched  with  color 
by  the  blue  or  scarlet  hoods  they  wore  in  token  of  the 
different  degrees  they  held.  These  hoods  at  once  caught 
Donald's  eye,  and  on  inquiring  and  being  informed  what 
thev  sigrnified,  he  said  to  himself  with  serene  resolution  : 

"  If  I  am  spared,  I  shall  wear  one  or  both  of  those 
hoods  before  I  am  ten  years  older.  Nothing  less  than  a 
master  of  arts  or  doctor  of  philosophy  will  satisfy  me." 

He  had  been  so  successful  hitherto  in  fulfilling  his 
ambitions,  that  it  was  little  wonder  if  he  was  coming  to 
think  that  one  had  onlv  to  be  suflScientlv  in  earnest  and 
work  hard  enough,  in  order  to  accomplisli  any  purpose 
within  the  bounds  of  reason.     He  knew  those  blue  and 


I 


152 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


U 


scarlet  hoods  were  granted  by  European  universities,  but 
that  did  not  dash  his  hopes  of  winning  them  a  whit.  He, 
too,  God  willing,  would  in  due  time  be  a  student  at  one 
of  these  universities,  and  do  his  best  to  earn  its  honors. 

The  principal  exorcises  of  the  day  were  the  delivering 
of  the  inaugurrd  address  and  the  reading  out  of  the 
results  of  the  recent  examinations.  The  latter  came  first, 
and  Donald's  face  blushed  with  pleasure  at  the  rounds 
of  applause  which  greeted  the  announcement  of  his  suc- 
cess, and  the  principal's  statement  that  the  general 
average  of  proficiency  shown  by  the  matriculants  this 
year  had  been  higher  than  any  previous  year. 

Then  came  the  inaugural  address;  and  when  the 
venerable  principal  gave  out  that  this  would  be  delivered 
by  Professor  McLeod  who,  after  a  brilliant  course  of 
study  in  England  and  Germany,  had  been  appointed  to 
the  chair  of  Physics,  Donald  pricked  up  his  ears  at  the 
familiar  name  and  craned  forward  eagerly  to  see  who 
should  respond  to  this  flattering  introduction. 

When  the  round  of  applause  that  the  announcement 
evoked  had  subsided,  there  came  out  from  the  group  of 
professors  a  tall,  dark,  handsome  man  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  whom  Donald  recognized  at  once,  despite  the 
changes  and  improvements  wrought  by  time  and  culture, 
as  his  teacher  at  Rivervale  ten  years  before.  When  Mr. 
McLeod  was  there  he  had  said  he  felt  sure  that  he  and 
Donald  would  meet  again ;  and  here,  sure  enough,  was 
the  fulfillment  of  his  prophecy.  .      . 

With  an  especial  feeling  of  interest,  Donald  listened  to 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


153 


the  admirable  address  Professor  McLeod  delivered,  and 
enjoyed  its  unwonted  originality  of  thought  and  expres- 
sion. No  one  applauded  the  good  points  with  which  it 
bristled  more  heartily  than  he,  and  when  the  speaker 
finished  he  resolved  to  lose  no  time  in  making  himself 
known  to  him. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait  for  his  opportunity.  After 
the  close  of  the  proceedings,  some  of  the  professors  re- 
mained to  exchange  greetings  with  friends.  One  of  those 
who  did  so  was  Professor  McLeod ;  and  after  waiting  for 
a  favorable  moment,  Donald  made  bold  to  present  him- 
self before  him  with  the  question : 

"  Professor  McLeod,  do  you  remember  me  ?  " 

The  professor  critically  surveyed  the  handsome,  stal- 
wart lad  before  him,  and  then  shook  his  head,  saying 
courteously :  "  I  am  afraid  that  I  do  not." 

"  I  am  Donald  Grant,  of  Rivervale,"  returned  Donald. 

Instantly  the  professor's  face  lit  up  with  a  smile  of 
unmistakable  pleasure,  and  he  grasped  the  young 
student's  hand  in  token  of  hearty  recognition. 

"And  you  are  Donald  Grant,  who  used  to  be  such  a 
comfort  to  me  in  the  Rivervale  school  ten  years  ago. 
What  a  fine  big  fellow  you  have  developed  into !  And 
you  have  evidently  not  forgotten  your  good  habits,  seeing 
what  a  brilliant  beginning  you  have  made  at  our  uni- 
versity. You  must  come  to  my  room  some  evening  soon 
and  tell  me  all  about  yourself.  I  am  glad — very  glad, 
indeed — to  meet  with  you  again,  and  shall  hope  to  see  a 
good  deal  of  vou." 


CHAPTER  XV. 


SETTLING   DOWN  TO   WORK. 


f' 


!i 


ti- 


< 

1 

;■ 

1 

Itii 

1* 

THE  day  after  convocation  the  regular  work  of  tlie 
university  for  the  winter  term  was  begun.  Donald 
found  that  he  had  to  take  four  "  required  "  subjects,  and 
was  free  to  take  as  many  "  optionals  "  or  "  electives  "  as 
he  saw  fit.  The  required  subjects  were  mathematics  and 
classics,  of  course,  chemistry  and  modern  languages ;  and, 
acting  upon  Mr.  Munroe's  advice,  which,  happily,  too, 
accorded  with  his  own  inclinations,  he  selected  as  an 
optional  the  lectures  on  rhetoric  that  formed  part  of  the 
first  year's  course. 

The  professor  of  rhetoric  was  Dr.  Madell,  who  had  won 
fame,  not  onlv  as  a  master  of  the  theoretical  side  of  the 
tsubject,  but  as  an  exponent  of  its  practical  value ;  his  novels 
having  a  wide  popularity  as  much  because  of  their  charm- 
ing style  as  of  the  brilliant  imagination  they  displayed. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  students ;  for  he  took 
pains  to  make  his  own  subject,  interesting  as  it  was  of 
itself,  still  more  attractive  by  his  vivid  presentation  of  it. 
Then  he  was  always  ready  to  talk  about  his  theme,  and 
to  follow  out  its  wide  ramifications.  Donald  did  not  take 
longjto  find  this  out,  and  many  a  delightful  and  instruc- 
tive discussion  of  some  question  suggested  by  the  morn- 
ing's lecture  did  he  have  with  the  genial  professor  during 
154 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


155 


the  winter.  The  great  world  of  literature  had  a  strong 
fascination  for  the  young  student.  To  speak  and  write 
his  mother  tongue  clearly,  fluently,  forcibly,  and,  per- 
chance, eloquently,  was  his  ruling  desire ;  and,  therefore, 
all  his  preferences  in  his  studies  were  for  those  branches 
that  helped  toward  the  achievement  of  this  happy  faculty. 
Professor  Madell  was  the  first  author  of  established 
reputation  he  had  known,  and  he  regarded  him  with  a 
degree  of  admiration  that  was  closely  akin  to  reverence. 
In  mathemetics  his  leader  was  Professor  Macdonnell — 
a  most  competent  teacher,  thoroughly  up  in  his  intricate 
subject,  and  very  lucid  in  his  mode  of  presenting  it ;  but 
as  short  of  temper  as  he  was  of  body,  and  given  to  saying 
cutting  things  that  made  him  rather  unpopular  with  his 
students.  Donald  never  felt  quite  at  home  with  him. 
Mathematics  was  his  most  troublesome  subject.  He  had 
never  taken  kindly  to  it,  and  the  dread  of  the  professor's 
sharp  tongue  tended  to  make  him  nervous  when  reciting ; 
so  that  it  was  alwavs  a  relief  to  him  when  the  class  was 
over  for  the  day.  He  took  much  comfort  from  the 
knowledge  that  in  the  next  year  he  could  drop  the  sub- 
ject altogether.  Had  he  known  Professor  Macdonnell 
better,  however,  he  need  not  have  been  so  much  troubled 
in  his  mind.  The  shrewd  Scotchman  quickly  discerned 
those  of  his  students  who  were  really  doing  their  best, 
tliougrh  their  answers  miofht  be  verv  wide  of  the  mark  at 
times,  and  what  ones  of  them  were  shirking  the  difficul- 
ties instead  of  facing  them  fairly ;  and  it  was  for  this 
latter  class  that  he  reserved  his  stinging  sarcasm.    As  it 


156 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


.  I*' 


was,  Donald  did  his  best,  and  altliough  outdone  both  at 
recitation  and  examination  by  some  others  whose  minds 
had  a  mathematical  bent,  he  nevertheletis  managed  to 
maintain  a  creditable  standing  in  the  class. ' 

Professor  Dawson  had  the  department  of  chemistry;  a 
man  of  some  renown  in  that  branch  of  science,  but  not 
at  all  happy  in  his  method  of  teaching  it.  He  had  a 
hesitating  manner  and  a  rather  indistinct  utterance,  so  it 
was  no  wonder  if  the  students  much  preferred  the  ex- 
periments, in  which  he  was  an  adept,  to  his  lectures,  in 
which  he  seemed  only  a  tyro.  His  manner  was  retiring, 
moreover,  and  kept  the  young  men  at  a  distance  from 
him ;  so  that  Donald,  who  had  a  very  sensitive  nature 
and  could  not  bear  to  seem  like  an  intruder  upon  any  one, 
never  came  to  be  on  easy  terms  with  him,  although  he 
received  great  benefit  from  his  instruction. 

Next  to  literature  and  languages,  Donald  loved  the 
classics  ;  and  in  this  subject  he  had  one  of  the  best  teach- 
ers in  the  university,  as  well  as  the  oddest-looking  man 
on  its  staff.  Certainly,  Professor  Thompson's  physical 
appearance  gave  little  hint  of  the  mental  powers  of  the 
man.  He  was  as  slim  as  the  proverbial  fishing  pole. 
He  walked  in  a  peculiar  tilting  way,  as  though  he  were 
stepping  upon  springs.  His  face  was  as  thin  as  his  body, 
and  his  features  strongly  aquiline ;  yet  a  rich  color 
suggestive  of  warm  blood  within  mantled  in  his  cheeks, 
and,  even  darkly  shaded  the  farthest  tip  of  his  nose.  His 
hair  was  thin  and  of  a  golden  red  hue.  But  what,  above 
all  these  characteristics,  attracted  one's  attention  was  the 


:} 


DONALD  GRANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


157 


5  both  at 
se  minds 
uaged  to 

[nistry;  a 
i,  but  not 
He  had  a 
ance,  so  it 
i  the  ex- 
jctures,  in 
i3  retiring, 
mce  from 
ve  nature 
u  any  one, 
.hough  he 


fact  that  his  left  arm  was  missing.  Only  a  short  stump 
marked  the  place  where  it  ought  to  have  been  ;  and  yet 
so  expert  and  agile  was  the  professor  in  his  use  of  the 
right,  that  he  seemed  hardly  to  miss  the  other. 

It  took  Donald  a  little  while  to  make  his  way  to  an 
easy  footing  with  Professor  Thompson  ;  but  once  this  was 
established,  he  became  much  attached  to  him,  and  was  in 
turn  regarded  by  the  professor  with  a  very  kindly  in- 
terest. As  will  be  told  farther  on,  he  was  destined  to 
render  his  teacher  most  timely  service  in  an  hour  of 
great  peril. 

The  department  of  modern  languages  was  in  the  hands 
of  Prof.  Liechtan,  a  talented  Swiss,  well  versed  in  both 
French  and  German  ;  a  very  faithful,  energetic  teacher, 
under  whom  Donald  made  good  progress. 

In  regard  to  his  fellow-students,  Donald  found  himself 
at  first  somewhat  awkwardly  situated,  owing  to  his  having, 
by  virtue  of  winning  advanced  standing,  skipped  over 
the  Freshman  year  and  taken  his  place  among  the 
Sophomores.  Had  he  begun  with  the  Freshmen  he  would, 
of  course,  have  been  in  just  the  same  circumstances  as 
his  classmates,  and  a  bond  of  sympathy  would  have  been 
quickly  established  among  themselves. 

But  with  the  Sophomore  class  it  was  very  different. 
Thev  had  all  been  one  term  too^ether  at  the  universitv 
already.  Their  likes  and  dislikes,  their  friendships  and 
rivalries,  were  already  formed.  They  had  pretty  well 
gotten  one  another's  gauge,  so  to  speak.  His  sudden 
entrance  among  them,  however,  took  them  somewhat  by 


I 


158 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


I 


ii. 


surprise.  They  were  inclined  to  regard  hira  as  an  in- 
truder, and  to  put  him  "  into  chancery,"  for  a  while  at 
all  events,  until  thev  saw  what  stuff  he  was  made  of. 
Some  of  them,  too,  looked  jealously  upon  iiim.  If  lie  con- 
tinued as  brilliantly  as  he  had  begun,  he  must  needs  prove 
a  dangerous  comjietitor  for  the  class  honors.  They  were, 
therefore,  not  disposed  to  give  him  a  kindly  reception. 

Donald,  with  his  keen  perception  and  quick  sensitive- 
ness, could  not  fail  to  be  at  once  conscious  of  the  state  of 
affairs,  and  to  feel  a  good  deal  troubled  over  it.  Popu- 
larity was  as  precious  to  him  as  to  any  other  youth.  He 
desired  to  be  liked  by  his  fellow-students  no  less  than  by 
his  instructors,  and  it  worried  him  to  find  the  feeling  in 
the  class  thus  adverse  to  him  without  his  having  given 
any  cause  for  it.    He  told  Mr.  Munroe  how  matters  stood. 

"  Now,  my  dear  boy,"  said  his  clear-headed  friend, 
"just  don't  you  bother  yourself  about  the  business  one 
bit.  College  students  are  only  school  boys  half  grown 
up,  trying  to  put  on  the  dignity  of  manhood  before  they 
have  put  off  the  foolishness  of  boyhood.  Your  classmates 
are  acting  in  that  way  in  order  to  impress  you  with  a  due 
sense  of  your  privilege  in  being  admitted  to  their  august 
society.  It  amuses  them.  Do  not  let  it  hurt  you.  As- 
sume a  sweet  unconsciousness  of  it.  Let  it  affect  you  no 
more  than  the  air  about  vou.  Do  not  make  anv  special 
advances  toward  them,  but  be  quick  to  respond  to  any 
the^y  make  to  you ;  and  as  sure  as  your  name's  Donald, 
you  will,  before  long,  find  the  best  of  them  at  all  events 
as  friendly  as  you  could  wish." 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


159 


Donald  recognized  the  force  of  this  sound  advice,  and 
proceeded  to  act  upon  it.  He  had  great  faith  in  Mr. 
Munroe's  counsel,  and  felt  it  to  be  a  piece  of  peculiar 
good  fortune  that  he  had  such  a  counsellor  at  hand  ;  for 
where  everytliing  was  so  novel,  and  he  was  so  anxious  to 
do  just  the  right  thing  in  the  right  way  and  had  so  little 
experience  of  his  own  to  guide  him,  the  gentle,  shrewd, 
kindly  suggestions  of  his  cultured  friend  and  his  ready 
answers  to  all  questions,  were  of  unspeakable  comfort  to 
the  country  youth  seeking  to  make  headway  in  the  graces 
of  social  intercourse,  as  well  as  in  the  acquirement  of 
intellectual  riches. 

As  the  days  went  by,  the  accuracy  of  Mr.  Munroe's 
forecast  revealed  itself,  very  much  to  Donald's  gratifica- 
tion. Always  bright  and  pleasant,  yet  in  no  way  intrus- 
ive, his  classmates  could  not  long  maintain  againil  him 
their  foolish  attitude  of  reserve.  They  realized  that  he 
was  quite  too  good  a  fellow  to  be  excluded  from  tlieir 
circle,  and  by  the  end  of  the  first  month  he  had  estab- 
lished almost  as  sure  a  footing  among  them  as  if  he  had 
been  with  them  from  the  start. 

In  regard  to  his  work,  he  found  himself  at  first  con- 
siderably handicapped  by  his  lack  of  experience  in  taking 
notes.  He  had  never  had  any  practice  which  would 
prepare  him  for  listening  to  an  hour's  lecture  and  getting 
the  gist  of  it  into  his  notebook,  and  ue  often  felt  sorely 
dismayed  because  so  much  would  be  missed  that  seemed 
essential.  He  was  not  a  particularly  rapid  penman,  and 
this  fact  would  have  told  materially  to  his  disadvantage 


160 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


but  for  the  faculty  of  rapid  condensation  which  he  pos- 
sessed in  a  marked  degree.  This  enabled  him  to  jot  down 
the  leading  points  in  their  proper  connection,  a^th^Mgh 
much  of  the  language  in  which  they  were  stated  might 
be  let  slip. 

He  wus  very  happy  in  his  new  sphero.  For  the  first 
time,  his  whole  nature  had  found  room  to  expand.  He 
heartily  entered  into  and  enjoyed  the  social  side  of  uni- 
versity lifie.  There  were,  of  course,  all  sorts  and  condi- 
tions of  young  men  among  the  many  students  gathered 
together.  Some  were  there  simply  because  their  fathers 
had  sent  them.  They  did  not  propose  to  study  any 
harder  th.an  they  could  help,  but  to  have  as  good  a  time 
as  possible.  Arthur  Anderson  was  a  fair  type  of  this 
class.  Quite  content  with  his  first  success,  he  had  no 
idea  of  attempting  to  follow  it  up,  and  would  be  certain 
to  make  a  poor  showing  at  the  final  examination.  Others, 
again,  had  come  because  they  considered  a  degree  part 
of  the  necessary  outfit  of  a  gentleman.  They  would, 
therefore,  work  hard  enough  to  make  sure  of  passing; 
but  beyond  that  they  had  no  ambition.  The  majority  of 
the  students,  however,  belonged  to  neither  of  these  two 
classes,  but,  like  Donald  himself,  had  made  their  own 
way  to  the  university  and  would  pay  their  owl  way 
through  it.  Their  ambition  went  higher  than  the  mere 
degree.  They  had  in  mind  the  prizes  and  honors  tliat 
werp  to  be  won  by  strenuous  endeavor,  and  their  chief 
thought  was  studv,  not  amusement.  Among  these  Donald 
found  his  friends.    They  were  mostly  country  lads  like 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


161 


he  pos- 
jot  down 

id  miirht 


the  first 
md.    He 
le  of  nni- 
[10  condi- 
gathered 
jir  fathers 
itudy  any 
)od  a  time 
pe  of  this 
le  had  no 
be  certain 
n.  Others, 
gree  part 
ey  would, 
If  passing; 
ajority  of 
these  two 
their  own 
OWL  way 
the  mere 
onors  that 
Iheir  chief 
ise  Donald 
lads  like 


himself,  and  thev  had  much  in  common  besides  their 
mutual  interests  and  ambitions. 

One  feature  of  the  university  that  ho  especially  enjoyed 
was  the  students'  debating  society.  This  met  every  Fri- 
day evening  in  the  classical  room  which,  with  its  sloping 
tiers  of  seats,  was  well  adapted  for  the  purpose.  He  had 
always  felt  a  strong  impulse  toward  speech  making,  and 
at  home  had  indulged  the  inclination  by  committing  to 
memory  portions  of  famous  orations  and  speeches,  and 
repeating  them  in  the  barn  to  an  audience  composed  of 
his  own  brothers,  who  never  failed  to  accord  him  a  most 
appreciative  hearing  and  unlimited  applause.  In  this 
way,  almost  without  knowing  it,  he  had  been  acquiring 
the  rudiments  of  the  art  of  oratory;  and  he  gained 
further  experience  of  value  by  venturing  now  and  then 
to  prepare  original  speeches  and  deliver  them  in  the 
same  manner. 

One  Saturday  morning  he  happened  to  mention  some- 
thing about  this  practice  of  his  to  Mr.  Pat  to  son.  The 
head  master  at  once  became  deeply  interested. 

"  You  could  hardly  employ  your  time  better,  Donald," 
said  he.  "An  easy  and  graceful  delivery  will  be  of 
immense  value  to  you  in  manhood.  Won't  you  give  me 
one  of  your  speeches  now?  I  am  very  eager  to  see  how 
you  can  get  it  off." 

After  some  persuasion  Donald  acceded,  reciting  not 
one  of  his  own  composition,  but  a  fine  passage  from  one 
of  Daniel  Webster's. 

"You  did  that  verv  well  indeed,"  said  ^Ir,  Patterson, 


162 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


when  he  had  finished ;  "  far  better  than  I  would  have 
expected,  seeing  that  you  have  had  no  training.  Would 
you  mind  now  if  I  pointed  out  some  of  the  mistakes  you 
made  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  I  would  not,  sir,"  cried  Donald,  earnestly. 
"  I  would  be  only  too  glad  to  have  you  do  it." 

Mr.  Patterson  then  proceeded  to  criticise  the  deliv*  ry 
of  the  oration,  while  Donald  listened  attentively,  and 
then  tried  over  again  some  portions  of  it,  bearing  in  mind 
what  had  been  said.  This  was  the  beirinning  of  a  series 
of  lessons  in  elocution  that  lasted  as  long  as  the  Saturday 
morning  meetings,  whereby  Donald  received  an  amount 
of  permanent  benefit,  the  full  measure  of  which  he  did  not 
realize  until  the  time  came  for  him  to  take  part  in  the 
debating  society. 

He  had  not  taken  any  part  in  the  first  few  meetings. 
He  wanted  to  feel  more  at  home,  and  to  iret  the  run  of  the 
ruhs  of  debate  before  he  ventured  to  open  his  mouth. 
So  he  listened  attentively  to  the  others,  and  mentally  criti- 
cised them  somewhat  after  the  wav  in  which  Mr.  Patterson 
had  openly  criticised  him.  At  each  successive  meeting 
he  felt  more  strongly  tempted  to  get  upon  his  feet  when 
the  debate  was  thrown  open ;  but  he  was  neve 'theless  a 
good  deal  staggered  when  the  committee  of  arrange  iient 
notified  him  that  he  had  been  selected  to  second  the 
leader  on  the  negative  side  in  the  debate  on  the  following 
ITriday  evening. 

The  subject  was  one  of  more  than  usual  interest  at  the 
time,  being  stated  thus :  "  Resolved,  That  the  university 


»-r.,» 


DONALD   G:. ANT'S   DEVELOPMENT. 


163 


uld  have 

Would 
takes  YOU 

earnestly. 

e  deliv'  -y 
ivelv,  and 
\KT  ill  mind 
of  a  series 
e  Saturday 
an  amount 
[1  he  did  not 
part  in  the 

w  meetings, 
e  run  of  the 
his  mouth. 
ntally  criti- 
r.  Patterson 
ive  meeting 
s  feet  when 
;ve 'thele.-^s  a 
rrange  lent 
second   the 
he  following 

Iterest  at  tlie 
le  university 


should  not  be  open  to  women."  Much  discus.sion  in  the 
public  press  and  on  the  platform  had  already  taken 
place.  The  advocates  of  woman's  right  to  higher  educa- 
tion were  gaining  ground.  The  feeling  in  the  university- 
was,  on  the  whole,  against  them.  But  Donald  shared 
tlieir  opinions,  and  heartily  sympathized  with  their 
endeavors.  He  could  not  see  why  his  sex  should  mo- 
nopolize the  benefits  and  privileges  of  university  life. 
Ho  was  consequently  very  glad  to  find  himself  on  what 
he  considered  the  right  side  of  the  subject,  and  this  made 
it  easier  for  him  to  undertake  the  duty  assigned  him  by 
Mie  committee. 

Having  done  so,  he  proceeded  at  once  to  prepare  him- 
self with  characteristic  thoroughness ;  for  although  he 
was  not  to  lead,  he  resolved  to  take  as  much  pains  as  if 
he  were,  and  then  he  would  be  sure  to  have  plenty  to  say 
in  his  role  of  seconder.  He  had  no  idea  of  relying  upon 
the  speeches  of  his  opponents  for  inspiration.  He  would 
bring  his  own  inspiration  with  him  in  the  form  of  well- 
digested  thought  and  argument. 

Mr.  Munroe  showed  a  hearty  interest  in  the  matter, 
and  was  very  helpful  in  suggesting  sources  of  informa- 
tion, and  otherwise  assisting  him  in  preparing  for  the 
fray. 

"You  must  be  armed  cap-a-pie,  my  boy,*'  said  he,  with 
one  of  his  sweet  half-serious  smiles ;  *'  for  this  is  your 
first  appearance,  you  know,  and  you  must  make  as  good 
an  impression  as  possible." 

Donald  needed  little  urging.     So  much  did   the  iX[y- 


164 


vn^y 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


preaching  debate  occupy  his  thoughts  that  his  studies 
stood  in  danger  of  suffering  somewhat;  and  his  nerves 
were  getting  into  a  condition  the  reverse  of  placid  as  the 
time  for  the  meeting  drew  near.  In  fact,  he  never  felt 
more  nervous  in  his  life  than  when  lie  entered  the  class- 
room on  the  eventful  evening.  His  feelings,  therefore, 
may  be  easily  imagined  when  a  note  was  handed  him 
which  told  him  that  his  leader  had  been  suddenly  taken 
ill  and  would  not  be  able  to  be  present,  and  that  he  would 
have  to  fill  his  place  I 


lis  studies 
bis  nerves 
icid  as  the 
never  felt 
L  the  class- 
,  therefore, 
anded  him 
.enly  taken 
it  he  would 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  WINNING  OF  THE  DEBATE. 

<<X17HAT  on  earth  shall  I  do?"  asked  Donald, 
'  »  almost  in  a  groan,  as,  looking  the  very  picture 
of  dismay,  he  passed  the  note  announcing  his  leader'  • 
unavoidable  absence  over  to  Mr.  Munroe,  who  took  in  its 
import  at  a  glance. 

"Do?"  he  replied  at  once.  "Why,  be  your  own 
leader,  of  course.  You  are  probably  far  better  prepared 
than  Dunbar  would  have  been,  anyway." 

"  Oh,  but  I  can't,"  protested  Donald,  in  sincerity.  "  I 
have  not  spoken  here  yet,  and  I  will  ceri.ainiy  break 
down  at  the  very  start  if  I  attempt  to  take  Dunbar's 
place." 

"  You  will  just  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  young  man," 
returned  Mr.  Munroe,  in  a  semi  jocular  tone.  "  I  would  be 
ashamed  to  own  \ou  if  you  did.  No,  no,  Donald,"  he  con- 
tinued, in  a  more  serious  strain,  "  here  is  your  opportunity. 
You  must  not  turn  your  back  on  it.  Everybody  knows 
that  Dunbar  was  to  lead.  You  can  explain  why  you  are 
in  his  place.  Every  allowance  will  therefore  be  made 
fur  you.  and  if  you  do  well,  as  I  am  j)*^rfectly  sure  you 
will,  all  the  more  will  be  thought  of  it." 

Dunald  sat  silent  for  a  minute,  thinking  very  hard  and 
euumiouing  all  his  resolution  to  meet  the  criiis. 

165 


f— 


166 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


**  Very  well,"  he  said,  quietly.  "  You  are  right,  I  know. 
You  always  are.  I  will  do  ray  best,  and  if  I  make  a 
mess  of  it,  I  will  at  least  have  the  satisfaction  of  bavins: 
tried." 

"That  is  the  way  to  talk,  my  boy,"  answered  Mr. 
Munroe,  with  a  beaming  smile  of  approval.  "  Go  in  and 
win.  You  are  on  the  right  side  of  the  question,  and  you 
ought  to  carry  the  society  with  you." 

The  room  was  filling  up  during  the  course  of  this 
conversation,  until  it  became  evident  that  the  attendance 
would  be  larger  than  at  any  previous  meeting.  This  was 
due,  of  course,  to  the  special  interest  of  the  subject,  and 
not  to  the  debaters  for  the  evening.  Having  once  made 
up  his  mind  to  face  the  unexpected  responsibility  of 
taking  the  lead  on  his  side,  Donald  felt  better  pleased  at 
the  prospect  of  a  good  big  audience  than  of  a  small  one. 
The  more  there  were  to  listen,  the  stronger  would  be  the 
spur  to  his  lagging  courage,  and  the  greater  the  likeli- 
hood of  his  making  a  creditable  showing. 

The  debate  was  opened  by  one  of  the  Seniors, — a  large 
and  rather  imposing  man  named  Fraser, — who  spoke 
with  the  ease  and  assurance  of  a  practiced  debater. 
His  arguments  were  not  very  cogent,  and  his  whole 
speech,  when  analyzed,  had  not  much  solid  matter  in  it. 
But  he  delivered  himself  of  it  in  a  very  emphatic,  ora- 
torical fashion,  that  went  far  toward  atoning  for  its 
deficiencies  in  reasoning  and  research ;  and  he  sat  down 
at  its  close  amid  thunders  of  applause  that  showed  he  had 
made  a  decided  impression  upon  his  audience. 


^^rryf 


DONALD  GRANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


167 


With  parched  mouth  and  palpitating  nerves  Donald 
rose  to  reply  to  him,  receiving  a  hearty  round  of  applause 
in  token  of  its  being  his  first  appearance.  He  felt  him- 
self trembling  in  every  limb ;  a  mist  filled  his  eyes  and 
nmde  the  expectant  faces  before  him  so  indistinct  he 
could  not  identify  Mr.  Munroe,  with  whom  he  wished, 
from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  he  might  at  that  moment 
change  places.  His  tongue  seemed  as  if  it  had  gone  on 
a  strike,  and  refused  to  perform  its  office.  There  was  a 
painful  interval  of  breathless  silence,  as  he  stood  by  the 
chairman's  desk  striving  in  vain  to  burst  the  fetters 
of  stage  fright  that  apparently  bound  him  like  some 
magic  spell. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  door  opened  and  in  stepped 
Professor  McLeod.  He  quickly  took  the  nearest  seat, 
and  then  looked  at  Donald  with  an  apologetic  smile,  as 
though  to  say :  *'  Forgive  my  intrusion.  Please  do  not 
let  me  interrupt  you.     Go  right  on." 

That  kindly  smile  broke  the  spell,  and  Donalds  tongue 
began  to  work,  somewhat  haltingly  and  slowly  at  first, 
but  moving  with  growing  freedom  as  he  warmed  to  the 
subject.  Tiie  rich  store  of  ideas  he  had  so  carefully  pre- 
pared came  more  and  more  freely  from  his  mind,  until, 
by  the  end  of  the  first  five  minutes,  he  had  forgotten  all 
his  nervousness — forgotten  everything,  in  fact,  but  the 
cause  he  had  to  plead.  With  a  simple  straightforward 
earnestness  that  won  everybody's  heart,  he  poured  out  his 
well-ordered  arguments  one  after  the  other,  while  the 
crowd  of  students  listened  in  a  profound  silence  broken 


168 


DONALD  GKANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


only  by  the  rounds  of  applause  that  greeted  each  point 
as  it  was  made. 

When  he  concluded,  the  room  rang  with  hearty 
plaudits;  and  as  he  resumed  his  seat  beside  Mr.  Munroe, 
the  latter,  pressing  his  hand  warmly,  whispered :  "  Most 
excellently  done,  my  budding  Demosthenes.  How  glad 
you  ought  to  be  tiiat  Dunbar  did  not  turn  up!  Your 
fame  is  made." 

After  Donald,  followed  Eraser's  seconder — a  small, 
sharp-featured  student  in  the  Sophomore  year — Skinner 
by  name — who,  in  a  thin,  acid  voice  endeavored  to  make 
light  of  his  opponent's  arguments  without  advancing  any 
of  his  own.  He  succeeded  in  raising  a  laugh  or  two, 
being  not  without  a  spice  of  humor,  but  did  Donald  very 
little,  if  any,  damage. 

Donald  then  came  on  again,  and  this  time  speaking 
much  more  quietly,  confined  himself  to  answering  wliat 
Fraser  had  advanced,  doing  his  best  to  meet  him  at  every 
point.     He  succeeded  very  well  in  the  endeavor. 

As  the  opener  of  the  debate,  Fraser,  of  course,  had  the 
right  of  closing,  which  he  did  in  a  speech  of  considerable 
power,  directed  entirely  against  what  Donald  had  brought 
forward. 

"He  is  knocking  me  all  to  pieces,''  whispered  the 
latter  to  Mr.  Munroe.    *'  I  wish  I  could  speak  again." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  have  another  chance,  although  it  is 
not,  the  usual  thing,"  was  the  reply. 

A  few  minutes  afterward,  witiiout  attracting  Donald's 
attention,  he  scribbled  off  a  short  note  and  had  it  passed 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


1G9 


up  to  the  chairman,  who  on  reading  it,  nodded  back  an 
assent  to  the  proposition  it  contained.  Meanwhile  the 
debate  was  thrown  open  and  taken  part  in  by  a  number 
of  those  present,  until  the  chairman  announced  that  the 
time  for  taking  the  vote  had  come.  Before  doing  this, 
however,  he  wished  to  ask  the  society  if  the  leader  for  the 
negative  might  not  be  permitted  to  speak  again,  in  view 
of  the  circumstances  under  which  he  had  taken  part  in 
the  debate.  A  unanimous  chorus  of  approval  greeted 
the  suggestion,  whereupon,  turning  to  Donald,  the  chair- 
man invited  him  to  once  more  take  the  floor. 

A  little  surprised,  but  not  at  all  reluctant,  for  he  was 
full  of  fight — as  the  saying  is — and  intensely  anxious  to 
win  the  verdict,  Donald  accepted  the  invitation  promptly. 
He  was  allowed  ten  minutes,  and  he  made  the  most  of 
his  time,  reviewing  the  arguments  that  had  been  adduced 
against  his  side  and  marshalling  anew  those  in  favor  of 
it.  So  full  of  his  subject  was  he  that  the  chairman  had 
to  tell  him  when  his  time  was  up. 

Immediately  afterward  the  vote  was  taken  by  show  of 
hands,  and  Donald's  he.irt  stood  still  as  he  awaited  the 
result  of  the  counting.  There  were  seventy-five  persons 
present  eligible  to  vote,  and  of  these  thirty-five  voted  for 
the  affirmative  and  forty  for  the  negative.  Donald  had 
won,  and  his  triumph  was  all  the  greater  from  the  fact 
that  he  had  had  to  encounter  and  overcome  the  prejudice 
already  prevailing  against  the  admission  of  women  to  the 
privileges  of  study  in  the  university. 

When  the  meeting  was  over,  congratulations  poured 


-V 


170 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


in  upon  him  from  all  sides ;  but  none  gave  him  so  much 
pleasure  as  the  warm  pressure  of  Professor  McLeod's 
hand,  and  the  deep,  strong  voice  saying :  "  Well  done, 
Donald  Grant.  This  is  a  great  triumph  for  Rivervale. 
What  a  pity  the  good  people  could  not  have  been  here 
to  share  in  it !  " 

He  had  already  seen  a  good  deal  of  the  professor, 
although  he  did  not  yet  attend  his  lectures.  He  quite 
often  went  up  to  his  room  in  the  university  to  ask  his 
advice  perhaps,  or  to  tell  him  something  of  interest ;  and 
he  had  no  reason  to  doLi)t  that  in  the  brilliant  young 
professor  he  liad  anolher  friend  upon  whom  he  could 
depend  for  wise  counsel  and  willing  help,  whenever  he 
might  require  them.  A  fortunate  youth  indeed  was  he 
in  the  friends  he  made.  Thev  stood  readv  to  meet  and 
encourage  and  direct  him  in  his  ambition,  to  sympathize 
with  and  assist  all  his  upreachings,  to  aid  him  in  the 
development  of  what  was  best  in  his  nature.  Until  he 
came  to  Chebucto  this  development  had  been  almost 
altogether  on  the  intellectual  side  of  his  behig.  His 
thought  and  concern  had  been  concentrated  upon  his 
studies,  upon  his  preparation  for  the  university,  where  he 
hoped  to  make  his  mark ;  and  in  Mr.  Patterson  he  had 
enjoyed  a  rare  ally  and  instructor. 

At  Chebucto  he  found  in  Mr.  Munroe,  Professor 
McLeod,  and  Professor  Madell  all  that  could  be  desirec 
for  the  carrying  on  of  the  good  work  so  well  begun  by 
Mr.  Patterson ;  and  it  might  seem  as  though  there  could 
be  nothins:  lacking  toward  the  riffht  maturiuar  of  his 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


171 


mind  and  character.  But  was  that  reallv  so?  Assuminy: 
that  every  circumstance  was  in  favor  of  a  worthy  mental 
development,  would  that  be  all  ?  Was  there  nothing  left 
out  of  account  in  such  an  estimate  of  opportunities  and 
privileges?  This  was  a  question  which  had  never  so  nuicli 
as  stirred  in  Donald's  brain  until  it  was  asked  of  him  bv 
the  Rev.  John  Sterling.    It  had  come  about  in  this  way: 

On  the  morning  of  his  first  Sunday  in  Chebucto,  he 
asked  Mr.  Munroe,  as  they  sat  at  breakfast,  who  was 
considered  the  best  preacher  in  the  Bapti^-t  churches  of 
the  citv. 

"I  am  afraid  that  is  a  subject  upon  which  I  can  give 
you  very  little  light,"  answered  Mr.  Munroe,  with  a  smile 
of  genial  indifference ;  "  for  the  fact  is  I  rarely  go  to 
church,  and  when  I  do  it  is  to  the  Cathedral.  Thev  are 
alwavs  sure  to  have  some  srood  music  there,  and  some- 
times  quite  tolerable  preaching." 

Donald's  eyes  opened  a  good  deal  at  this  reply.  He 
had  been  brought  up  to  regard  regular  churchgoing  as 
one  of  the  chief  duties  of  life,  and  it  shocked  him  to  hear 
his  host  treating  it  in  such  an  irreverent  fashion. 

Mr.  Munroe  noticed  his  confusion  and  hastened  to  his 
relief. 

"  Oh,  please  don't  look  at  me  like  that,  Donald,"  he 
cried,  laughingly.  "  I  never  did  lay  claim  to  much  piety, 
Tou  know,  and  vou  must  not  mind  me  one  bit.  Just  feel 
free  to  sro  to  church  three  times  every  Sundav  if  vou  like. 
By  the  way,"  he  added,  "  last  night's  paper  ought  to  give 
us  some  information  ;  let  us  look  at  it." 


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M.^, 


(/. 


(/a 


i 


'^ 


•SS 


<^ 


»t^- 


^%W^ 


4> 


■^ 


.A 


k_ 


172 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


The  paper  was  examined,  and  on  one  page  was  found 
a  column  full  of  announcements  of  the  Sunday  services, 
arranged  in  groups  according  to  the  different  denomina- 
tions. 

"  Here  you  are,"  said  Mr.  Munroe.  "  Just  study  this 
batch,  and  pick  out  the  one  that  seems  the  most  promis- 
ing. I  will  go  with  you  for  once,  seeing  that  you  are 
such  a  stranger  and  my  guest  into  the  bargain." 

Donald  looked  over  the  list,  and  was  attracted  at  once 
by  the  name  of  the  "  Calvary  B»ptidt  Church  "  and  that 
of  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Sterling. 

"  I  think  I  would  like  to  go  there,"  he  said,  pointing 
out  the  address  to  Mr.  Munroe.  "  Do  you  know  where 
it  is?" 

"  Calvary  Church  ?  "  replied  Mr.  Munroe.  "  Let  me 
see.  Why,  of  course  I  do.  It  is  not  more  than  ten 
minutes*  walk  from  here,  straight  up  the  next  street. 
Very  well,  that  is  where  we  will  go." 

They  took  care  to  be  a  little  early,  and  were  shown  to 
good  seats  by  a  courteous  usher.  They  had  time  to  look 
about  them  as  the  church  filled  up.  It  was  a  large  build- 
ing, with  the  pews  arranged  in  sloping  tiers  and  capable 
of  seating  more  than  a  thousand  people.  The  whole  ap- 
pearance was  of  warmth,  color  and  comfort;  and  to 
Donald,  who  had  never  worshiped  elsewhere  than  in  the 
bare,  bleak,  old-fashioned  meeting  house  at  Beechmount, 
the  delightful  coziness  of  this  modern  church  was  a  per- 
fect revelation.  He  gazed  around  with  wide-open  eyes 
of  admiration  at  the  tastefully  frescoed  walls,  the  great 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


173 


windows  of  beautiful  stained  glass,  the  handsome  pulpit, 
and  then  up  to  the  ceiling  of  natural  wood,  grained  and 
carved  in  fantastic  fashion.  It  was  all  grateful  to  his 
se:;thetic  sense,  and  he  had  about  made  up  his  miad  to 
choose  Calvary  for  his  church  while  in  Chebucto  when 
the  pastor  took  his  place  in  the  pulpit. 

With  a  throb  of  joy  not  hard  to  account  for  in  one 
whose  only  previous  experience  had  been  of  dry  old  Dr. 
Sternhold,  Donald  noted  that  he  was  a  young  man  and 
had  a  bright,  kind,  sympathetic  face,  whose  pleasant 
augury  was  strengthened  by  the  rich,  smooth  voice  in 
which  he  gave  out  the  opening  hymn.  From  that 
moment  Donald  had  no  eyes  for  either  church  or  con- 
gregation, his  whole  attention  being  fixed  upon  the 
preacher.  The  sermon  proved  as  great  a  revelation  as 
the  edifice  in  which  it  was  delivered.  Simple  and  yet 
solid ;  earnest  without  bein^  sensational,  and  eloquent 
without  being  overwrought ;  logically  evolved  from  the 
text,  not  appended  to  it  so  loosely  that  there  was  no 
making  out  the  connecting  link  ;  brightened  and  pointed 
here  and  there  by  touches  of  a  genuine  mother  wit  which 
seemed  to  flash  out  half  unconsciously,  and  in  an  unpre- 
meditated way  that  immensely  heightened  its  effect — 
such  was  the  kind  of  discourse  that  Donald  listened  to  on 
that  Sunday  morning ;  and  when  the  preacher  finished 
his  mind  was  fully  made  up — Calvary  should  be  his 
church  and  Mr.  Sterling  his  pastor  while  he  was  in 
Chebucto. 

As  he  and  Mr.  Munroe  passed  through  the  vestibule, 


^ 


-!,- 

■    >  t'. 

,  t-*^ 

if*' 

f 

1 

^ 

i  i 


•'(0mtm 


174 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


lis 


a  young  man  stepped  up  to  them  with  extended 
hand. 

"  We  are  very  glad  to  see  you  in  our  church,"  he  said, 
with  a  pleasant  smile, "  and  will  always  be  happy  to  show 
you  a  seat." 

They  shook  hands  with  him  and  thanked  him  for  his 
courtesy,  Mr.  Munroe  adding  in  his  own  graceful  way,  for 
the  attention  had  touched  a  responsive  chord : 

"  You  have  a  beautiful  church  and  a  grand  preacher. 
I  am  glad  you  are  willing  to  share  your  privileges  so 
freely." 

"  Oh,  yes,  we  are  only  too  glad  to  do  that,"  the  young 
man  smiled  back,  well  pleased  at  the  appreciation  shown 
by  the  strangers. 

"  I  won't  need  to  look  any  farther  for  a  church,"  said 
Donald,  emphatically,  aa  tliey  walked  homeward.  "  It 
seemed  like  a  little  bit  of  heaven  in  there  this  morning. 
What  a  noble  face  Mr.  Sterlinjy  has  and  how  everv  word 
he  says  seems  to  come  right  from  his  heart  1  Don't  you 
think  so,  Mr.  Munroe?" 

Mr.  Munroe  gave  a  sort  of  sigh,  as  though  he  envied 
his  companion  his  warm  enthusiasm. 

"  I  do  think  so,  Donald.  He  is  evidently  very  much 
in  earnest,  and  certainly  has  a  wholly  sincere  and  sensi- 
ble way  of  preaching.  It  would  be  a  good  tiling  for  the 
church  if  there  were  more  of  his  sort  in  the  pulpits." 

Full  quarter  of  an  hour  before  the  time  for  the  evening 
service,  Donald  presented  himself  at  the  church  door,  so 
eager  was  he  to  secure  a  seat,  and  was  met  by  the  young 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


175 


man  who  had  addressed  him  in  the  morning  and  who 
now  introduced  himself  as  Mr.  Bell,  asking  Donald's 
name  in  return.  Before  showing  him  to  a  pew  he  told 
him  there  was  a  meeting  held  in  the  hall  at  the  close  of 
the  services,  and  invited  him  to  remain  for  it,  which 
Donald  promised  to  do. 

Mr.  Sterling's  text  that  evening  was  from  Timothy : 
"That  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly 
furnished  unto  all  good  works ; "  and  he  preached  an 
exceedingly  powerful  sermon  upon  the  practical  side  of 
true  religion,  emphasizing  the  value  of  good  works  when 
done  in  the  right  spirit.  It  stirred  Donald  to  the  very 
depths.  Carefully  trained  as  he  had  been  from  the  cradle 
to  prefer  the  things  that  were  honest,  pure,  and  of  good 
report,  to  their  opposites,  however  tempting,  and  naturally 
endowed  with  a  sturdy,  self-respecting  nature  that  made 
it  easier  for  him  to  say  "  no  "  to  Satan,  in  whatever  guise, 
than  it  might  be  for  some  others,  he  had  grown  up  under 
tlie  lifeless  preaching  of  Dr.  Sternhold  with  very  vague 
ideas  as  to  the  duty  of  a  Christian.  To  resist  evil,  to 
attend  regularly  upon  the  religious  services,  to  read 
one's  Bible  and  say  one's  prayers  night  and  morning — 
tliese  about  made  up  the  sum  of  God's  requirements. 
Having  decently  fulfilled  them,  one  might  consider  his 
title  clear  to  an  eternal  mansion. 

But  upon  this  comfortable  conception  of  religion  Mr. 
Sterling's  sermon  broke  like  a  thunder  clap  upon  tlie 
stillness  of  a  midsummer  day.  In  such  a  scheme  in  life, 
where  did  the  "  good  works  "  unto  which  the  man  of  God 


nffl 


176 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


ebould  be  "  thoroughly  furnished  "  come  in  ?    Donald  had 
never  been  led  to  ask  himself  the  question  before. 

"  What  am  I  doing  for  my  Lord  ?  "  How  the  very 
air  seemed  to  be  ringing  with  it !  Profoundly  moved,  he 
sat  in  his  place  until  the  bulk  of  the  congregation  had 
gone  out,  and  then  followed  the  few  who  went  into  the 
hall  for  the  after  meeting. 


aid  had 


mvr 


the  very 

oved,  he 
tion  had 
into  the 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


INTO  A   LARGER  LIFE. 


ONLY  a  small  proportion  of  the  congregation  ^hich 
had  crowded  the  church  remained  for  the  after- 
service.  There  "were  perhaps  two  hundred  people  in  all 
in  the  bright,  cheery,  Sunday-school  hall,  and  as  Donald 
looked  around,  he  was  glad  to  note  that  the  majority  of 
these  were  comparatively  young.  Presently  Mr.  Bell 
came  in,  and  catching  sight  of  him  took  a  seat  beside  him. 

"  A  grand  sermon,  wasn't  it  ?  "  he  whimpered.  "  Mr. 
Sterlinsr  always  jrives  us  lots  to  think  about." 

"  He  has  just  given  me  a  great  deal  to  think  about," 
Donald  whispered  back. 

Mr.  Bell  looked  as  if  he  would  have  liked  to  hear 
more,  but  just  then  Mr.  Sterling  gave  out  a  hymn,  and 
the  service  commenced. 

It  was  a  short  and  very  simple  service.  After  the 
hymn  Mr.  Sterling  called  upon  one  of  the  young  men  to 
lead  in  prayer.  Then  he  spoke  a  few  words  himself, 
following  the  same  line  of  thought  that  had  been  ex- 
pressed in  his  sermon.  A  little  while  was  then  given  to 
volunteer  speaking,  and  a  number  took  part,  among  them 
Mr.  Bell,  who  spoke  in  a  modest  yet  manly  way  of  the 
joy  of  service. 

"  The  joy   f  service  !  "    thought  Donald.    "  That  is 

M  177 


178 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


somctbiug  that  I  have  never  known ;  and  how  full  of  it 
Mr.  Bell  seems  to  be  1  No  wonder,  though.  Just  see 
how  he  worked  for  God,  looking  after  strangers  and 
making  them  feel  at  home  I     Oh,  how  I  envy  him !  " 

Another  hymn  followed  the  speaking,  after  which  Mr. 
Sterling,  having  in  a  few  sentences  gathered  together  the 
choicest  thoughts  that  had  been  just  uttered,  went  on  to 
make  a  loving  appeal  to  those  present  who  had  not  yet 
taken  any  part  in  the  Lord's  work,  to  signify  their  inten- 
tion of  so  doing  by  standing  up  for  a  moment.  As  he 
said  this,  it  seemed  to  Donald  that  he  was  looking  straight 
at  him ;  and  so  magnetic  was  the  man,  that  the  impulse 
to  stand  up  simply  to  gratify  him  was  almost  irresistible. 
His  heart  throbbed  as  though  it  would  fain  burst  its 
bonds.  He  felt  his  face  alternately  flushing  and  tlien 
growing  white.  His  knees  trembled  as  with  palsy,  and 
it  was  only  by  dint  of  a  tremendous  effort  that  he  could 
prevent  himself  from  either  rising  to  his  feet  in  response 
to  the  minister's  appeal,  or  seizing  his  hat  and  bolting 
out  the  door. 

The  time  seemed  very  long  while  Mr.  Sterling  stood 
waiting,  and  there  were  several  who  made  known  their 
resolution  to  become  workers  in  the  vinevard  of  the  Lord ; 
but  Donald  managed  to  keep  control  of  himself,  although 
Mr.  Bell  could  not  help  getting  some  idea  of  the  struggle 
going  on  within  him. 

,  The  moment  the  benediction  was  pronounced  he 
hurried  away,  thus  frustrating  his  new  friend's  kindly 
intention  of  introducing   him   to  the  pastor,  who  was 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


179 


N  full  of  it 
Just  see 
i,uger3  and 
him  1 " 

which  ?»Ir. 
ogether  the 

went  on  to 
had  not  yet 
their  inten- 
jnt.  As  he 
;ing  straight 
the  impulse 

irresistible. 
\in  burst  it3 
hg  and  then 
1  palsy,  aud 
hat  he  could 
in  response 

and  bolting 

lerling  stood 
[known  their 
|of  the  Lord; 
jif,  although 
the  struggle 

lounced  he 
md's  kindly 
)r,  who  was 


always  eager  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  strangers  in 
order  to  give  them  a  hearty  welcome  to  his  church  and 
to  his  home  also. 

But  Donald  felt  that  he  could  not  wait.  He  must  get 
into  the  open  air.  His  brain  was  in  a  whirl  of  thoughts 
the  like  of  which  had  never  disturbed  it  before.  From  a 
spiritual  point  of  view,  his  life  hitherto  had  been  a  par- 
ticularly placid  one.  Thanks  to  sound  parental  training 
and  an  innate  preference  for  the  good,  he  had  contrived 
to  keep  a  conscience  commendably  void  of  offense  toward 
man,  at  all  events,  and  with  this  he  had  been  content. 
The  question  as  to  whether  it  had  been  in  like  manner 
void  of  offense  toward  God  had  never  disturbed  his 
serenity.  Now,  however,  it  faced  him  like  an  adversary 
in  the  way,  and  demanded  an  answer. 

He  did  not  go  straight  home.  The  night  was  fine  and 
clear,  and  he  paced  the  street  between  the  church  aud 
Mr.  Munroe's  no  less  than  six  times,  pondering  deeply  all 
the  while,  before  he  felt  sufficiently  composed  to  go  in. 
He  found  his  friend  reclining  in  an  arm  chair  before  the 
fire,  and  solacing  himself  with  a  cigar  as  a  preliminary 
to  retiring  for  the  night. 

"  Oh,  there  you  are  at  last !  "  he  exclaimed,  as  Donald 
entered  the  room.  "  I  was  wondering  what  had  become 
of  you,  aud  whether  it  was  not  my  duty  to  notify  the 
police  in  case  of  your  being  lost,  strayed  or  stolen.  What 
mischief  have  you  been  up  to  ?  Come,  out  with  it.  I  am 
in  a  certain  sense  responsible  for  your  good  behavior, 
you  know,  while  you  are  undei  my  roof." 


If 


180 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


Although  Mr.  Munroe's  bantering  grated  upon  him 
Eomewhat  unpleasantly  in  his  wrought-up  state  of  mind, 
Donald  tried  hard  to  seem  at  his  ease  and  to  answer  in 
the  same  spirit. 

"  I  have  not  been  up  to  any  mischief  at  all,"  he  said, 
*'  unless  you  would  call  staying  to  an  after-meeting  at  the 
church  mischief.  Then,  as  the  night  was  so  fine.  I  have 
been  stretching  my  legs  a  little  before  going  to  bed." 

Mr.  Munroe  regarded  him  curiously  as  he  spoke.  His 
quick  perception  told  him  that  Donald  was  doing  his 
best  to  hide  deep  feeling  under  a  show  of  unconcern. 
But  he  was  too  refined  in  his  own  feelings  to  attempt  to 
intrude  upon  another's ;  so,  throwing  the  remnant  of 
his  cigar  into  the  fire,  he  rose  from  his  chair  with  a  well- 
simulated  yawn,  saying :  "  Well  it  is  bedtime,  I  sup- 
pose, and  no  doubt  you  are  quite  ready  to  tumble  in.  Let 
us  adjourn." 

Donald  was  very  glad  to  reach  the  seclusion  of  his  own 
room.  He  had  never  in  his  life  before  felt  such  a  long- 
ing to  be  alone  as  now.  Thro^^ing  himself  into  a  chair, 
he  resumed  the  dis(^ussion  within  his  own  mind  which 
had  been  begun  in  the  street  and  interrupted  by  the 
brief  conversation  with  Mr.  Munroe.  His  mind  was  like 
a  house  divided  against  itself;  and,  as  in  the  debate 
before  the  society,  there  was  an  aflirmative  and  negative 
side,  so  now  he  found  himself,  just  as  though  he  were  two 
distinct  individualities,  debating  the  question  Mr.  Ster- 
ling's sermon  had  aroused. 

The  point  at  issue  was  not  difficult  to  state.    He  saw 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


181 


►on  bim 
>f  mind, 
ns"wer  in 

he  said, 
[ig  at  the 
i.  I  have 
bed." 
oke.   His 
doing  his 
nconcern. 
ittempt  to 
iinant  of 
ith  a  well- 
oe,  I  8up- 
le  in.  Let 

Df  his  own 
ch  a  long- 
|to  a  chair, 
Snd  which 
id  by  the 
Id  was  like 
|he  debate 
negative 
I  were  two 
I  Mr.  Ster- 

He  saw 


it  with  perfect  distinctness.  From  the  point  of  view  of 
the  evening's  discourse,  his  life  had  hitherto  been  liitle 
better  chan  u,  blank.  His  religion  had  been  purely 
theoretical,  so  to  speak,  and  no^  the  call  had  come  to 
elevate  it  into  a  practical  religion — to  aim  henceforth 
not  at  a  mere  routine  observance  of  religious  duties,  but 
at  being  thoughtfully  furnished  unto  all  good  works. 

And  why  did  he  hesitate  to  obey  the  call  ?  Why  did 
he  find  himself  disturbed  to  his  heart's  depths  by  it,  and 
conscious  of  an  opposition  within  that  strove  mightily 
to  make  answer  as  Felix  did  to  Paul,  "  Go  thy  way  for 
this  time ;  when  I  have  a  convenient  season  I  will  call 
for  thee." 

The  answer  was  simple  enough.  He  did  not  attempt  to 
argue  against  the  rightfulness  of  the  divine  demand.  He 
felt  perfectly  willing  to  confess  that  he  had  left  undone 
a  thousand  and  one  things  tliat  he  ought  to  have  done, 
and  that  he  had  no  claim  to  be  considered  other  than  an 
unprofitable  servant.  But  it  seemed  to  him  that  this  was 
a  most  inconvenient  season  to  begin  to  remedy  the  mat- 
ter. Here  he  was  right  in  the  midst  of  the  life  he  had 
60  long  and  eagerly  looked  forward  to  and  striven  so 
hard  to  enter.  He  had  achieved  at  the  start  a  success 
that  surpassed  his  brightest  expectations,  and  the  future 
could  hardly  have  been  more  promising  than  it  seemed. 
To  rightly  avail  himself  of  the  opportunities  for  intel- 
lectual and  social  culture  now  within  his  reach,  would 
absorb  all  his  time  and  energy.  How,  then,  could  he 
find  room  in  the  plan  of  his  life  for  the  new  duties  that 


182 


DONALD  GRANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


a  response  to  Mr.  Sterling's  appeal  would  involve  ?  For 
it  was  not  his  way  to  do  anything  by  halves.  The  in- 
junction, "  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with 
thy  might,"  needed  not  to  be  impressed  upon  him.  He 
clearly  realized  that  if  he  responded  to  the  summons  in 
the  same  spirit  as  that  in  whicii  it  had  been  made,  such 
a  step  would  necessarily  mean  a  consecration  of  time  and 
thouglit  and  energy  to  the  advancement  of  God's  cause, 
that  he  was  now  devoting  to  the  advancement  of  himself. 
He  came  to  no  conclusion  that  night,  nor  for  many 
niglits  afterward,  although  the  question  persistently 
obtruded  itself  upon  his  mind  and  refused  to  be  put  aside. 
He  continued  to  attend  the  services  at  Calvary  Church, 
but  avoided  the  after-meeting,  although  Mr.  Bell  more 
than  once  pressed  him  to  remain  for  it.  He  also  managed 
to  evade  being  brought  into  personal  contact  with  Mr. 
Sterling,  dreading  lest  the  minister  should  seize  the 
opportunity  to  urge  an  immediate  decision  upon  him. 
He  keenly  felt  the  need  of  a  friend  to  whom  he  might  go 
for  sympathy  and  counsel.  Much  as  he  loved  and  re- 
spected Mr.  Munroe,  Prof.  McLeod,  and  Prof.  Madill,  he 
clearly  understood  that  they  could  be  of  no  assistance  to 
him  in  a  matter  of  purely  spiritual  concern,  however 
helpful  in  the  intellectual  sphere.  He  could  even  pre- 
dict what  their  advice  would  be,  namely,  to  stick  to  his 
studies  for  the  present  and  leave  other  interests  alone,  at 
ledst  until  he  had  passed  through  the  university  ;  and  he 
was  too  honest  with  himself  to  attempt  to  silence  the 
inward  voice  by  securing  a  toreseen  verdict  against  it. 


il 


k-.fm> 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


183 


(re?    For 
The  in- 
io  it  with 
lim.     He 
tnnions  iu 
lade,  such 
time  and 
id'a  cause, 
)f  himself, 
for  many 
ersistently 
I  put  aside. 
V  Church, 
Bell  more 
i  managed 
,  with  Mr. 
seize   the 
upon  him. 
3  might  go 
id  and  re- 
Madill,  he 
sistance  to 
however 
even  pre- 
tick  to  his 
;s  alone,  at 
V  ;  and  he 
lilence  the 
ainst  it. 


Iu  fact,  he  franklv  admitted  to  himself  that  there  was 
))ut  one  counsellor  to  whom  he  ought  to  go,  and  then 
witli  a  full  determination  to  ahide  hy  his  answer  what- 
ever it  might  be — that  one  was  Mr.  Sterling;  and, 
f^trangely  enough,  he  could  anticipate  what  his  reply 
would  be,  although  he  had  not  the  same  objection  to 
seeking  it  that  he  had  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Munroe  and  th« 
otiiers.  On  the  contrary,  he  shrank  from  going  to  Mr. 
Sterling  with  the  matter  that  troubled  his  mind,  because 
he  thought  tliat  in  so  doing  he  would  practically  commit 
himself.  It  would  be  a  touching  of  the  plow  handles,  at 
tiie  very  least,  that  couul  be  followed  up  with  credit  only 
hy  taking  a  firm  grip  with  the  resolution  not  to  look 
hii';k  again,  but  to  cut  a  furrow  as  straight  and  deep  and 
long  as  God  might  give  him  grace  and  strength  to  ac- 
complish. 

Of  course,  this  mental  conflict  could  not  go  on  without 
some  outward  manifestations,  which  at  first  gave  Mr. 
Munroe  some  concern.  Donald's  face  took  on  such  a 
troubled  expression  that  he  felt  sure  there  must  be  some- 
tliing  amiss  either  in  his  state  of  health  or  otherwise,  the 
nature  of  which  he  was  anxious  to  learn.  He  accordingly 
pressed  him  with  inquiries,  but  could  gain  very  little  light. 
Donald  did  not  want  to  lay  the  whole  matter  before  him, 
and  yet  he  did  not  see  how,  without  doing  so,  he  could 
explain  it  at  all.  So  he  kept  his  own  counsel,  although 
feeling  all  the  while  that  his  kind  and  generous  friend 
might,  with  good  reason,  feel  hurt  at  his  inexplicable 
reserve.  , 


I 


1 

-r 

i 

t 

1 

■  I 

184 


DONALD  grant's  I^EVELOPMENT. 


Mr.  Ttlunroe  did  entertain  such  a  feeling  at  first. 
Happily,  that  subtle  instinct  which  enabled  him  at  times 
almost  to  read  another's  mind  came  to  his  aid.  He 
divined  the  true  cause  of  his  protege's  quietude,  and 
respecting  his  right  to  maintain  silence  upon  so  sacred  a 
matter,  let  sympathy  take  the  place  of  pique  and  set 
himself  to  be  as  serene  and  cheery  a  companion  as 
possible. 

Donald  noted  the  change  with  inexpressible  gratitude, 
and  all  the  deeper  became  his  wonder  that  one  in  whose 
nature  tliere  was  so  much  of  the  angelic  should  hold  such 
lax  views  on  religious  matters  and  keep  himself  aloof,  as 
far  as  possible,  from  all  holy  influences. 

The  weeks  went  by,  and  siiU  Donald  halted  between 
two  opinions.  His  studies  became  more  and  more  en- 
grossing, and  he  found  the  debating  society  increasingly 
interesting,  while  tiirough  Mr.  Munroe  he  had  opportuni- 
tie3  of  social  relaxation  that  he  keenly  enjoyed.  Not 
a  week  passed  without  his  being  invited  to  some  pleasant 
gathering,  and  although  he  found  that  his  entire  ignor- 
ance of  the  art  of  dancing  and  of  the  mvsteries  of  cards 
placed  him  sometimes  at  a  disadvantage,  he  never  failed 
to  obtain  sufficient  entertainment  without  breaking  the 
rule  he  had  laid  down  for  himself,  of  never  taking  part 
in  either  of  these  fascinating  but  perilous  amusements. 

Of  course,  all  these  influences  helped  to  dull  the  edge 
of  his  anxiety  concerning  a  right  spiritual  relation  ;  and 
as  the  end  of  the  year  approached  he  had  grown  some- 
what callous,  although  the  voice  within  still  spoke  at 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


185 


■ii 


lot  at  first, 
iin  at  times 
,s  aid.  He 
ietude,  and 
so  sacred  a 
jue  and  set 
ni  pan  ion  as 

le  gratitude, 
)ne  in  whose 
Id  hold  such 
self  aloof,  as 

Ited  between 
lid  more  en- 
increasingly 
d  opportuni- 
ijoyed.     Not 
)me  pleasant 
entire  ignor- 
ries  of  cards 
never  failed 
Dreaking  the 
taking  part 
nusements. 
uU  the  edge 
lation  ;  and 
grown  some- 
till  spoke  at 


times.  In  the  midst  of  his  unrest  he  had  written  fully 
about  it  to  his  father,  and  had  received  in  reply  a  long 
and  loving  letter  that  voiced  the  mind  of  both  parents, 
and  the  sense  of  which  was  that,  so  far  away  from  him  and 
so  ignorant  of  the  new  life  upon  which  he  had  entered, 
they  felt  they  were  hardly  able  to  advise  as  to  just  what 
he  ought  to  do  ;  and  therefore  they  besought  him  to  go  to 
Mr.  Sterling  and  open  his  mind  and  heart  to  him.  When 
Donald  had  read  the  letter,  he  laid  it  down,  saying 
tenderly : 

"  They  are  right.  Mr.  Sterling  is  the  only  one  who 
can  give  me  the  counsel  I  need ;  I  will  go  to  him." 

But  he  did  not  do  so  at  once,  and  postponement  fol- 
lowed postponement  until  the  year  neared  its  close.  He 
would  have  liked  to  go  home  for  the  Christinas  holidays, 
but  the  expense  made  it  impracticable  ;  and  he  remained 
at  Mr.  Munroe's  utilizing  the  time  in  reviewing  the  work 
already  done  and  anticipating  some  of  that  which  was  to 
come. 

On  New  Year's  Eve  a  special  watch  niglit  service  was 
held  in  Calvary  Church.  It  began  at  ten  o'clock  and 
continued  until  a  few  minutes  after  midnight.  With  a 
certain  Reeling  of  curiosity.  Donald  took  his  accustomed 
sc  it.  He  had  never  attended  such  a  service  before,  and 
wondered  of  what  nature  it  would  be. 

The  church  was  filled  >^ith  a  congregation  of  men  and 
women  who  evidently  felt  that  the  lateness  of  the  hour 
and  the  fact  of  its  beins:  the  verv  end  of  another  year 
imparted  a  peculiar  solemnity  to  the  service.     No  one 


186 


DONALD  GRA-NT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


was  more  affected  by  the  influence  of  the  latter  thouglit 
than  Donald.  The  year  just  about  to  close  had  been  the 
most  eventful  of  his  life  in  many  ways.  It  had  witnessed 
the  attainment  of  his  long-cherished  ambition  ;  the  win- 
ning of  welcome  and  worthy  triumphs ;  the  gaining  of 
friends  wiiose  very  companionship  had  an  educational 
value ;  the  enjoyment  of  pleasant  experiences  hitherto 
only  dreamed  of.  What  a  year  of  blessings  it  had  been ! 
With  an  overflowing  heart  might  he  exclaim,  "Thou 
crownest  the  year  with  thy  goodness." 

In  singing,  and  prayer,  and  address,  tlie  services  pro- 
ceeded as  the  hand  of  the  clock  in  the  curve  of  the  srallerv 
moved  steadily  toward  midnight.  Tiiere  were  not  many 
minutes  of  the  old  vear  left  when  Mr.  Sterlinof,  leanim: 
far  over  the  edge  of  the  pulpit  as  though  he  desired  to 
get  as  near  to  his  hearers  as  possible,  put  liis  whole  heart 
into  an  almost  passionate  appeal  to  them  not  to  let  the 
year  slip  into  eternity  without  dedicating  themselves  to 
God  in  the  fullest  manner. 

"  Oh,  dear  friends,"  he  cried,  his  eyes  glowing  with 
Christlike  love  and  his  voice  tremulous  with  intensitv  of 
earnestness,  "  bear  with  me  while  I  press  upon  you  the 
question ;  *  How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  Lord  ?  '  and 
beseech  you  in  my  Master's  name  to  answer  it,  not  to  me, 
but  to  your  own  souls.  We  will  spend  tlie  last  moments 
of  the  year  in  silent  prayer,  and  may  God  help  us  to 
place  ourselves  unreservedly  in  his  hands  for  time  and 
for  eternitv  I " 

In  the  space  of  solemn  silence  which  followed  while 


t.-rw,y 


DONALD   GRANT'S   DEVELOPMENT. 


187 


lowed  while 


the  whole  congregation  went  to  their  knees,  it  seemed  to 
Donald  as  though  he  lived  a  lifetime.  The  startling, 
searching  question  put  by  the  preacher  illuminated  his 
heart  as  a  flash  of  liglitning  reveals  the  landscape  at 
midnight ;  and  he  recoiled  in  keen  remorse  from  what  he 
said.  As  the  innumerable  blessincrs  which  had  bri^-htened 
his  life  crowded  in  upon  his  mind,  the  very  voice  of  Jesus 
seemed  to  say  in  tones  of  patient,  loving  reproach : 
"All  this  I  did  for  thee.  What  hast  thou  done  for 
me  ?  " 

The  people  were  not  many  minutes  on  tlieir  knees,  but 
ere  they  rose  again  Donald's  decision  was  made.  The 
battle  was  fought  and  won,  and  he  stood  ready  to  say  : 
"Here  am  I,  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  do?"  A 
strange  sense  of  relief,  of  elation,  thrilled  him  with  new 
joy.  He  thought  of  Pilgrim  when  the  grievous  burden 
rolled  off  his  wearv  back,  and  said  to  himself:  "  I  am 
sure  I  feel  as  he  did  then.  What  a  foolish  creature  I 
have  been  to  bear  my  burden  all  this  while,  when  I  might 
have  been  freed  from  it  long  ago." 

Together  with  the  delightful  sense  of  freedom  car.j  a 
desire  to  make  the  matter  known.  It  seemed  too  joyous 
a  thing  to  hide.  Therefore,  when  Mr.  Sterling,  just  be- 
fore closing  the  service,  asked  if  there  were  not  some 
present  who  had  resolved  upon  entering  into  a  closer 
relation  with  God,  and  if  so  he  would  urge  them  to  make 
their  resolution  public,  for  they  would  thus  help  others 
and  help  themselves  too,  Donald  without  hesitation  at 
once  rose  to  his  feet. 


«4«WiVI 


188 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


A  beautiful  smile  of  gladness  irradiate  I  Mr.  Sterling's 
face  as  their  eyes  met. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  young  brother,"  said  he.  "  You 
have  begun  tiie  new  year  gloriously.  Tiie  Master  hath 
need  of  such  as  you  to  carry  on  his  work." 

Others  followed  Donald "s  example,  and  for  each  the 
minister  had  a  word  in  season.  Then  he  asked  them  all 
to  remain  for  a  few  minutes  after  service  was  over. 

Donald,  of  course,  remained,  and  when  Mr.  Sterling 
grasped  him  warmly  by  the  hand  and  looked  lovingly  into 
his  eyes,  his  whole  heart  went  out  to  him,  and  he  felt 
willing  to  do  anything  he  might  ask. 

"  I  have  often  seen  you  in  my  congregation,"  said  the 
minister,  "  and  have  been  anxious  to  make  your  acquaint- 
ance. I  am  so  glad  that  it  has  begun  in  this  way.  I  am 
sure  we  sliall  grow  to  be  great  friends,  and  you  will  be 
one  of  my  willing  helpers  in  doing  our  Master's  work, 
will  you  not  ?  " 

"I  will,  indeed,  so  far  as  I  can,"  answered  Donald, 
earnestly.  *'  I  have  been  very  unhappy  just  because  I 
would  not  answer  the  call  to  work.  1  wanted  all  my 
time  to  myself.  But  I  see  things  very  differently  now, 
and,  God  helping  me,  I  am  going  to  try  to  be  of  some 
use  after  this." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


A   NEW   SPHERE   OF   ACTIVITY. 


DONALD'S  determination  to  take  some  part  in  relig- 
ious work  was  no  mere  passing  impulse.  He  meant 
what  he  said  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  although,  of 
course,  not  having  had  any  previous  experience  of  the 
kind  his  ideas  were  naturallv  somewhat  vaj^ue  as  to  what 
might  be  expected  of  him  and  what  he  might  prove  to  bo 
qualified  to  undertake.  This,  however,  gave  him  no 
concern.  Having  once  decided  to  respond  to  God's 
claims  upon  his  energies,  he  was  not  at  all  exercised  in 
mind  as  to  the  particular  task  that  might  be  assigned  him 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  That  was  a  matter  upon 
which  he  would  have  to  look  to  Mr.  Sterling  for  direction. 
Mr.  Sterling  did  not  keep  him  long  in  uncertainty. 
The  day  after  New  Year's,  Donald  leceived  a  note  from 
him  inviting  him  to  take  tea  with  him  the  following 
evening.  At  the  parsonage,  on  his  arrival,  he  found  Mr. 
Bell  and  two  other  young  men  of  about  his  own  age, 
both  of  whom  had  taken  the  decisive  step  with  him  at  the 
watch-night  service.  Although  a  little  constrained  at 
first  through  strangeness,  the  irresistible  geniality  of 
their  host  and  the  charming  tact  of  his  lovely  wife  soon 
broke  down  all  barriers  of  reserve  and  the  three  young 

Sharers 
189 


men  felt  themselves  to  be  thorouffhlv  at  home. 


190 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


as  they  were  in  the  common  gladness  of  liberation  from 
the  bondage  of  sin,  their  hearts  warmed  toward  each  other, 
and  Donald  was  glad  to  have  tv?o  such  friends  added  to 
his  widening  circle. 

One,  by  name  Fred  Heath,  was  a  clerk  in  a  large 
business  establishment.  He  had  a  bright,  shrewd,  attrac- 
tive face,  and  a  general  air  of  being  all  alive,  so  to  speak, 
that  promised  well  for  any  enterprise  he  should  give  \ns 
heart  to.  Tiie  other,  William  Randall,  was  a  law  student, 
and  presented  quite  a  contrast  to  his  companion,  being 
tall  and  slight,  with  an  almost  colorless  face  and  dark 
blue  eyes,  wliich  were  apt  to  be  set  in  an  earnest  gaze  as 
though  he  were  looking  you  through  and  through  while 
you  spoke  with  him.  He  would  evidently  move  more 
cautiously  and  deliberately  than  Heath,  but  he  was  of 
the  kind  that,  once  committed  to  a  trust,  would  die  before 
deserting  it. 

After  a  delicious  tea  that  spoke  volumes  for  Mrs. 
Sterling's  domestic  management,  and  svas  heartily  enjoyed 
by  all,  Mr.  Sterling  revealed  his  purpose  in  calling  them 
together.  He  thought  that  the  time  had  come  for  carry- 
ing out  a  scheme  upon  which  his  heart  had  long  been 
set.  The  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  the  Epworth 
League,  and  other  such  organizations  for  utilizing  the 
services  of  the  young  people  in  the  work  of  the  church 
were  unknown  then,  but  here  and  there  at  different 
phurches,  societies  existed  that  in  many  ways  were 
anticipations  of  these  movements  which  have,  in  these 
late  years,  grown  to  such  magnitude  and  beneficence. 


IT. 

iration  from 
i  each  other, 
ids  added  to 

in  a  large 
rewd,  attrac- 
80  to  speak, 
)uld  give  his 
law  student, 
anion,  being 
ce  and  dark 
nest  gaze  as 
rough  while 

move  more 
t  he  was  of 
Id  die  before 


les  for  Mrs. 
•tily  enjoyed 
3alling  them 
oe  for  carry- 
i  long  been 
he  Ep worth 
utilizing  the 

the  church 
at  different 

ways  were 
ve,  in  these 
beneficence. 


-.MOT 


I  iiiiii 


^ 


Donald  Grant. 


Paue  1!)0. 


I 
i 

} 
1 

k^ 

DONALD  grant's   DEVP:L0PMENT. 


191 


Such  a  society  Mr.  Sterling  had  determined  upon  estab- 
lishing in  his  church,  and  he  had  invited  his  right-hand 
man,  Mr.  Bell,  who  was  ever  ready  to  co-operate  in  good 
works,  and  the  three  young  recruits  of  the  Chri&tian 
army,  whom  he  knew  to  be  eager  to  be  set  to  work,  "u 
order  that  they  might  talk  the  matter  over  and  form  the 
nucleus  of  the  new  society. 

They  all  were  at  once  favorably  impressed  by  Mr. 
Sterling's  scheme.  A  young  men's  society  of  some  kind 
seemed  most  attractive  to  them,  and  the  minister  was 
delighted  with  the  cordial  manner  in  which  they  entered 
into  the  discussion  of  ways  and  means.  Of  course,  only 
the  merest  outline  of  a  plan  could  be  determined  upon. 
None  of  the  party,  not  even  Mr.  Sterling,  had  had  any 
previous  experience  in  such  an  organization ;  and  so  they 
had  nothing  to  assist  them  but  their  own  good  sense  and 
inventive  talent. 

In  the  course  of  the  discussion  their  varied  characters 
were  plainly  manifested.  Mr.  Sterling,  of  course,  took 
the  lead,  and  had  the  most  to  sav.  But  Mr.  Heath's 
tongue  wagged  busily  as  his  quick  brain  evolved 
fcuifirestion  after  suofgestion,  and  Mr.  Bell  was  always 
ready  with  a  comment  or  criticism  which  his  experience 
in  religious  work  well  qualified  him  to  make.  Donald, 
fur  once,  kept  well  in  the  background.  It  was  all  so  new 
to  him  that  he  preferred  to  listen  and  learn.  Mr.  Ran- 
dall seemed  of  the  same  mind,  and  he  also  listened  more 
than  talked.  Yet  every  now  and  then  he  would  make  an 
observation  so  sound  and  sensible  as  to  win  the  prompt 


-•0^^ 


i     \ 


192 


k.rw.' 


DONALD   GRANT  S    DEVELOPMENT. 


^'i 


assent  of  the  others,  and  proved  that  he  was  going  to  be  a 
helper  of  no  ordinary  value. 

The  result  of  the  deliberations  was  the  outlining  of  a 
scheme  for  a  Young  Men's  Institute,  which  the  men  of 
the  church  would  be  called  together  to  consider  at  the 
first  opportunity ;  and  then  Mr.  Sterling's  guests  took 
their  departure,  leaving  the  minister  in  a  rarely  liappy 
and  hopeful  frame  of  mind. 

"  Helen,  my  dear,"  said  he  to  his  wife  after  they  had 
gone,  "  this  night  is  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  Calvary 
Church.  The  young  men  have  never  taken  the  place 
they  should  have  taken  in  the  work  of  the  church,  and 
we  ministers  have  been  principally  to  blame  for  it.  We 
have  not  sought  their  co-operation  as  it  was  our  duty, 
indeed  our  privilege,  to  do.  They  have  been  allowed  to 
think  that  they  would  be  of  no  account  until  their  heads 
were  bald  or  grey ;  until,  in  fact,  the  very  best  of  their 
lives  had  been  spent.  But,  thank  God !  our  eyes  are 
being  opened.  Tlie  day  of  the  young  people  is  dawning, 
and  mark  my  words,  Helen,  though  I  claim  not  to  be  the 
prophet  nor  the  sou  of  the  prophet,  I  venture  to  predict 
that  within  the  next  quarter  of  a  century  the  enlistment 
and  employment  of  the  energies  of  the  young  people,  the 
young  women  as  well  as  the  young  men,  in  the  work  of 
Christ's  church,  will  be  the  most  significant  and  inspiring 
feature  in  the  religious  history  of  the  world.'' 
,  "  I  believe  it  with  all  my  heart,''  responded  Mrs.  Ster- 
ling, her  beautiful  face  lighting  up  with  the  same  glad 
enthusiasm  that  made  her  husband  radiant.    "  Is  it  Eot 


DONALD  grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


193 


glorious  to  think  what  may  be  done  with  such  helpers  as 
the  dear  young  men  who  were  here  tonight?  How  glad 
I  am  that  you  have  found  them  out,  and  received  their 
sympathy  and  support.  Your  Young  Men's  Institute  is 
half  established  already." 

Mr.  Sterling  smiled  at  his  wife's  sanguine  view  of  the 
situation. 

"  I  only  wish,"  said  he, "  that  "'e  might  make  it  a  Young 
Women's  as  well  as  a  Young  x.jn  s  Institute  at  the  out- 
set. But  it  is  a  matter  in  which  we  must  hasten  slowly. 
We  have  everything  to  learn,  and  the  more  simple  our 
start  the  easier  it  will  be  to  make ;  and  then  we  can  en- 
large our  scope  when  the  success  of  our  scheme  warrants 
our  so  doing." 

Mr.  Sterling  did  not  let  the  grass  grow  under  his  feet. 
Arrangements  for  the  public  meeting  at  which  the  new 
departure  could  be  inaugurated  were  pressed  forward 
vigorously,  and  Donald  was  a  good  deal  disconcerted  by 
being  asked  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings.  He  wanted 
very  much  to  be  excused.  Having  never  had  any  ex- 
perience in  religious  work,  he  did  not  think  it  possible 
for  him  to  comply  with  his  pastor's  request  and  make  a 
speech  at  the  meeting.  It  would  be  a  hundred  times 
harder  than  speaking  in  the  debate,  and  could  result  only 
in  a  miserable  failure  that  would  be  injurious  to  the  cause 
he  was  to  advocate. 

But  Mr.  Sterling  would  not  be  gainsaid. 

'"No,  no,  my  young  brother,"  was  his  answer,  smiling, 
yet  firm.     "  I  thoroughly  sympathize  with  you  in  your 

N 


^^ 


194 


..'rr,' 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


forebodings  of  failure.  Every  bit  of  that  experience  was 
my  own  not  so  many  years  ago.  But  you  will  not  break 
down.  Not  a  bit  of  it.  A  set  speech  will  not  be  ex- 
pected of  you,  nor  would  it  be  expedient  for  you  to  make 
one.  You  have  a  message  for  the  young  men  like  your- 
self. It  came  to  you  at  the  watch-night  service.  Surely 
you  will  not  refuse  to  deliver  it!  " 

And  so  unable  to  resist  such  urging,  Donald  consented, 
it  being  understood  that  Mr.  Bell,  Mr.  Heath,  and  Mr. 
Randall  would  also  speak  and  thus  divide  the  burden 
with  him. 

The  following  Sunday,  Mr.  Sterling  gave  out  an 
announcement  to  the  eii'ect  that  the  men  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  particularly  the  young  men,  were  e*irnestly 
requested  to  attend  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  Junday- 
school  hall  on  Tuesday  evening,  for  an  object  that  would 
be  then  explained.  He  purposely  refrained  from  making 
known  the  object  of  the  meeting,  in  cider  to  arouse 
curiosity  and  thereby  insure  a  large  attendance. 

The  result  justified  his  expec^atious.  By  eight  o'clock 
on  Tuesday  evening  there  were  no  less  than  two  ^nindred 
men  gathered  in  the  hall,  eager  to  learn  the  reason  of 
their  being  called  together.  In  age  they  ranged  from 
seventy  to  seventeen,  and  they  fairly  represented  all  the 
clast'es  in  the  congregation. 

As  Donald  looked  around  from  his  seat  near  the  front, 
he  could  not  find  a  single  familiar  face  save  a  few  that 
he  had  come  to  know  from  seeing  them  in  the  church  ou 
Sundav. 


iT. 


DONALD  GRANT  S   DEVELOPMENT. 


195 


perience  was 
ill  not  break 

I  not  be  ex- 
you  to  make 
en  like  your- 
vice.    Surely 

Ud  consented, 
;ath,  and  Mr. 
^e  the  burden 

gave   out  an 

the  congrega- 

vere  e*\rnestly 

II  the    Junday- 
ect  that  would 

from  making 
uer  to  arouic 

ance. 

eicr'ht  o'clock 

n  two  ^Mindved 

the  reason  of 

y  ranged  from 

-esented  all  the 

near  the  front, 
■ave  a  few  that 
the  church  ou 


"  What  is  the  use  of  my  attempting  to  speak  ?  "  he 
asked  himself.  "  How  much  will  these  men  care  for  what 
I,  a  perfect  stranger  to  them,  may  say  ?  " 

Promptly  at  eight,  Mr.  Sterling  o])ened  the  meeting 
with  a  stirrincr  hvmn  which  helped  evervbodv  to  feel 
niDre  at  home,  and  followed  it  up  with  an  earnest  prayer 
for  a  special  divine  blessing  upon  what  was  to  be  done  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord.  Then,  after  another  hymn,  that 
most  appropriate  one  for  such  an  occasion — "  Work,  for 
the  night  is  coming  " — he  proceeded  to  answer  the  look 
of  inquiry  that  was  upon  every  face  by  revealing  his  pur- 
pose in  calling  the  meeting.  He  spoke  briefly  in  order 
to  leave  as  much  time  as  possible  for  the  young  men  who 
were  to  follow,  and  contented  himself  with  outlining  the 
scheme  for  a  Young  Men's  Institute  that  had  been  framed 
in  his  own  parlor. 

He  was  listened  to  with  the  closest  attention  bv  all, 
and  if  any  reliance  could  be  placed  upon  appearances, 
there  was  no  doubt  but  that  the  new  idea  would  receive  at 
least  a  very  careful  consideration  on  the  part  of  those 
present.  Having  done  this  much,  he  called  upon  Mr. 
Bell  to  point  out  how  such  an  organization  could  be  help- 
ful in  the  church  work. 

Mr.  Bell  was  well  prepared  and  made  an  excellent 
presentation  of  his  case,  indicating  a  number  of  ways  in 
which  an  association  of  young  men  for  religious  work 
could  accomplish  good,  and  emphasizing  the  fact  that  in 
thus  blessing  others  thev  would  themselves  of  a  certaintv 
he  blessed. 


f 


196 


K'rr,y 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


Then  Mr.  Sterling  called  upon  Donald,  and  the  young 
student  stepped  up  to  the  platform.  He  was  in  an 
intensely  nervous  state.  All  th.e  surroundings  were  so 
novel  and  his  own  position  most  novel  of  all.  For  the 
debating  society  he  had  had  some  previous  training  that 
stood  him  in  good  stead  when  once  his  tongue  became 
unloosed  ;  but  for  taking  part  in  a  religious  meeting  he 
had  not  had  the  slightest  preparation.  The  rows  of 
strange  faces  seemed  to  resolve  themselves  into  a  kind  of 
hydra-headed  creature,  staring  at  him  with  cold,  curious 
eyes  of  inquiry  as  to  his  right  to  address  it.  The  pers- 
piration gathered  thickly  upon  his  forehead  and  hands. 
AVould  the  words  never  come  ? 

Yes,  they  would  and  did.  By  a  heroic  effort  he 
mastered  himself  just  as  the  silence  was  growing  oppres- 
sive and  began  his  address,  speaking  slowly  and  with 
manifest  effort  at  first,  but  increasing  in  fluency  and  force 
as  he  found  the  hydra  resolving  itself  back  into  its  con- 
stituent countenances,  and  realized  that  they  were  listen- 
ing to  him  with  sympathetic  interest. 

His  subject  was  the  need  of  a  definite  work  for  young 
men  who  had  entered  into  the  Lord's  service,  and  he 
made  his  own  experience  a  basis  for  his  remarks,  relating 
very  frankly  and  simply  what  has  been  already  told  in 
the  course  of  this  story. 

"  And  now,"'  he  concluded,  "  I  have  tried  to  make  it 
clear  to  you  why  I  believe  that  every  young  man  who 
has  given  his  heart  to  God  should  at  once  seek  to  become 
a  laborer  in  his  vinevard.     We  can  all  do  something, 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


197 


the  young 
•va3   in   an 
igs  were  so 
.     For  the 
aining  that 
ue  became 
meeting  be 
le   rows  of 
;,o  a  kind  of 
;old,  curious 
,    The  pers- 

and  hands. 

ic  effort  he 
wing  oppres- 
Iv  and  with 
icy  and  force 
into  its  con- 
were  listen- 

•k  for  young 
•vice,  and  he 
arks,  relating 
•eady  told  in 

id  to  make  it 
mg  man  who 
eek  to  become 
lo  something, 


somewhere,  sometime,  and  tliis  Institute  which  Mr.  Ster- 
ling asks  us  to  join  with  him  in  establishing  is  just  what 
we  want  to  help  us  in  making  the  best  use  of  the  powers 
God  has  given  us,  If  we  go  into  it  with  all  our  hearts, 
and  determined  to  work  together  for  its  success,  it  can- 
not fail  to  be  a  success ;  and  as  sure  as  it  is,  we  will  all 
share  in  its  benefits,  while  we  will  be,  under  divine 
direction,  a  means  of  benefit  to  many  others." 

He  spoke  but  ten  minutes  altogether,  and  was  heard 
with  almost  breathless  attention.  His  sincere,  straight- 
forward manner,  absolutely  free  from  self-conscious  con- 
ceit, won  the  hearts  of  his  listeners  ;  and  the  ver v  fact  of 
his  being  a  stranger  caused  what  he  said  to  make  a 
deeper  impression,  thus  proving  a  help  instead  of  a  hind- 
rance, as  he  had  feared.  When  he  sat  down  he  had  won 
many  admirers,  some  of  whom  were  to  prove  welcome 
additions  to  his  circle  of  friends  in  the  early  future. 

After  the  singing  of  "  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds,"  both 
Mr.  Heath  and  Mr.  Randall  made  short  but  effective 
speeches ;  the  former  aiming  to  show  the  part  that  busi- 
ness men  could  take  in  the  proposed  Institute,  and  the 
latter,  the  opportunity  there  would  be  for  professional 
men  to  make  themselves  useful. 

Then  the  meeting  was  thrown  open  to  all  and  the 
speaking  became  general.  It  \v;.s  at  once  evident  that 
the  new  idea  had  found  favor  with  the  audience.  One 
after  another  arose  to  commend  it  heartily,  and  to  prom- 
i!«e  their  cordial  co-operation.  Some  of  the  graybeards, 
to  be  sure,  thouglit  it  necessary  to  throw  out  words  of 


*rm 


198 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


warning  as  to  the  danger  of  going  too  fast,  and  the  im- 
portance of  having  everything  done  decently  and  in 
order.  They  had  some  misgivings  as  to  what  might  be 
the  consequences  of  a  sudden  infusion  of  young  blood  into 
the  church.  But  thev  had  no  thought  of  standing  in  the 
way  of  the  movement.  It  certainly  contained  promise 
of  good,  and  seemed  well  worth  a  careful  experiment. 

So  without  more  ado,  the  meeting  proceeded,  under 
Mr.  Sterling's  judicious  guidance,  to  organize  the  Young 
Men's  Institute  of  Calvary  Church.  Committees  were 
appointed  to  draw  up  a  constitution,  to  prepare  a  list  of 
officers,  and  to  make  other  preparations  for  a  meeting  to 
be  held  on  the  same  evening  of  the  following  week,  when 
the  organization  could  be  completed.  After  this  had 
been  done,  ^Ir.  Sterling  said  a  few  words  expressive  of 
his  delight  at  the  warm  receptiim  his  scheme  had  been 
given,  and  with  the  singing  of  the  doxology  the  meeting 
came  to  a  close. 

Donald  went  back  to  Mr.  Munroe's  so  full  of  the  new 
enterprise  in  which  he  had  engaged,  that  he  could  not 
refrain  from  telling  his  friend  all  about  it. 

He  was,  of  course,  a  good  deal  elated  at  having  gotten 
on  so  well  with  his  speech,  and  this,  added  to  his  own 
deep  interest  in  the  affair,  caused  him  to  speak  with  an 
unusual  degree  of  animation.  Mr.  jNIunroe  gave  him  the 
closest  attention,  asking  questions,  now  and  then,  that 
Showed  a  genuine  sympathy  with  the  speaker  if  not  with 
his  subject ;  and  when  he  had  finished,  threw  himself 
back  in  his  chair  with  a  sigh,  saying  in  a  tone  whose 


.->. 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


199 


nd  the  ira- 
Iv  and  iu 
I  might  he 
f  blood  into 
ding  in  the 
ed  promise 
eriment. 
;ded,  under 

the  Young 
littees  were 
are  a  list  of 
I  meeting  to 

week,  when 
er  this  had 
xpressive  of 
le  had  been 

the  meeting 

of  the  new 
le  could  not 

wing  gotten 
to  his  own 
eak  with  an 
ive  him  the 
d  then,  that 
r  if  not  with 
rew  himself 
tone  whose 


sadness  he  made  no  attempt  to  conceal :  "  Oh,  Donald, 
my  boy,  how  I  envy  you !  May  the  mists  of  doubt  never 
obscure  that  bright  faith  that  now  makes  your  life 
radiant  I  You  have  found  the  secret  of  true  happiness, 
Donald,  and  you  are  richer  than  if  you  had  found  a 
diamond  mine.  It  is  not  enough  to  believe  the  Bible. 
One  must  live  it  too.  You  have  religion  by  the  right 
end,  God  bless  you ;  and  so  long  as  you  hold  it  fast  you 
will  be  a  blessing  to  others  and  find  abundant  happiness 
for  yourself.  I  repeat  it,  Donald  ;  I  envy  you  with  all 
my  heart." 

Donald  stood  looking  at  his  friend  with  strangely 
mingled  feelings.  He  had  never  heard  him  speak  so 
strongly  before  ;  and  wliile  he  was  deliglited  at  his  unex- 
pected sympathy  with  him  in  regard  to  the  Institute,  he 
was  touched  to  the  heart  bv  tlie  sorrowful  wav  in  which 
bespoke;  just  as  though  the  joys  of  Christian  service 
were  not  for  him,  but  had  in  some  manner  been  forfeited 
forever. 

But  before  he  could  speak,  Mr.  Munroe,  reading  in  his 
eyes  the  unuttered  question  and  anxious  to  anticipate  it, 
gave  a  sudden  change  to  the  convers^ation  by  asking 
some  questions  about  the  In^^iitute  in  an  altogether  differ- 
ent tone.  Donald  saw  clearlv  that  the  curtain  of  his 
heart,  lifted  for  a  moment,  had  again  been  dropped, 
and  that  it  would  not  be  expedient  for  him  to  attempt 
any  intrusion. 

He  could  not  help  feeling  disappointed.  What  Mr. 
Munroe  had  said  aroused  both  his  sympathy  and  hid 


200 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


curiosity.  What  did  he  mean  by  the  mists  of  doubt? 
Donald  had  never  doubted  in  his  life  a  sinijle  veritv  or 
the  Christian  faith.  Must  evervbodv  have  doubts,  and 
do  they  have  the  same  effect  upon  every  one  as  they 
seemed  to  have  had  upon  his  friend  who.  although  his 
whole  life  was  above  reproach,  was  yet  very  different 
from  the  orthodox  conception  of  a  Christian? 

With  these  questions  upon  his  mind,  he  prayed  very 
earnestly  for  Mr.  Munroe  that  night,  asking  God  to  clear 
away  the  mists  of  doubt  so  that  he  might  be  a  happy 
Christian.  And  he  prayed  for  himself,  that  he  miglit 
alwavs  live  in  the  sunshine  of  an  unclouded  faith,  and 
never  let  the  mists  gather  about  him. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE   INSTITUTE   AT   WORK. 


THE  Young  Men's  Institute  thus  prosperously  inau- 
gurated, went  forward  with  vigor,  and  expanded  as 
it  progressed.  At  the  second  meeting  the  officers  were 
elected  and  the  permanent  committees  formed.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Sterling  was  made  president. 
As  vice-president,  one  of  the  graybeards  was  wisely 
cliosen,  thus  enlisting  the  interest  of  the  older  men.  For 
treasurer,  a  man  in  middle  life  was  elected.  Mr.  Bell 
had  the  secretaryship  unanimously  conferred  upon  him, 
and  then  the  general  committee  was  composed  entirely 
of  young  men,  Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Heath,  and  Donald 
being  the  first  three  selected.  In  this  manner  a  very 
satisfactory  representation  of  the  diiferent  elements  in  the 
congregation  was  secured,  and  the  apprehensions  of  the 
ultra-conservative  folk  measurably  appeased. 

The  plan  of  the  Institute  as  settled  upon  after  pro- 
longed but  perfectly  harmonious  discussion,  contemplated 
several  lines  of  work.  First  and  foremost,  of  course, 
stood  the  religious  work.  This  was  divided  into  the 
inside  and  outside  work,  the  inside  comprising  the  ren- 
dering of  all  possible  assistance  to  the  pastor  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties ;  for  instance,  by  making  it  a 
matter  of  obligation  to  be  present  at  the  Wednesday 

201 


202 


K",y 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


f    !/ 


evening  service,  and  to  take  part  in  the  exercises  as 
opportunity  offered.  The  inviting  of  friends — and 
strangers,  too,  if  the  chance  presented  itself — to  the 
church  service  was  also  emphasized,  and  then  the 
following  up  of  any  who  might  thus  be  influenced  for 
good. 

But  the  especial  feature  of  the  inside  work  was  the 
prayer  meeting  just  before  the  public  service  on  Sun- 
dav  evening:.  At  this  service  there  was  alwavs  a  larfje 
numl^er  of  strangers,  Mr.  Sterling's  reputation  as  a 
preacher  and  the  ushers'  reputation  for  courtesy  to 
visitors  being  widely  extended.  The  purpose  of  the 
prayer  meeting  was  to  plead  for  the  divine  blessing  upon 
the  whole  service,  so  that  it  might  be  made  instrumental  in 
leading  sinners  to  repentance,  It  was  held  in  one  of  the 
Bible-class  rooms  and  lasted  just  twenty  minutes,  closing 
ten  minutes  before  the  opening  of  the  public  service. 

Mr.  Sterling  put  great  faith  in  this  prayer  meeting  and 
looked  for  manifest  results  from  it.  He  told  the  Institute 
that  with  such  help  as  that,  he  was  better  off  than  Moses ; 
for  while  the  patriarch  had  only  two  to  hold  up  his  hands 
if  thev  tjrew  wearv,  he  had  at  least  twentv,  each  one  as 
eaarer  as  Aaron  or  Hur  for  victorv  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

Then  there  was  the  outside  work.     At  the  outset,  Mr. 

Sterling  deemed  it  best  that  this  should  be  confined  to 

)  the  holding  of  cottage  meetings  in  the  suburbs  of  the 

city,  where  there  lived  many  people  who  rarely  entered 

church  or  attended  a  prayer  meeting  simply  because  of 


sT. 

exercises  as 
friends — and 
self — to  tlie 
d  ilien  the 
ifluenced  for 

('ork  was  the 
rice  on  Sun- 
iwavs  a  hu-f^e 
Litation   as  a 

courtesy   to 
rpose   of  the 
jlessing  upon 
jtrumental  in 
in  one  of  the 
nutes,  closing 
c  service. 
'  meeting  and 
I  the  Institute 
fthan  Moses; 
I  up  his  hands 
T,  each  one  as 

name  of  the 

he  outset,  Mr. 
je  confined  to 
uburbs  of  the 
arely  entered 
Iv  because  of 


DONALD  GUANT's  DKVELOPMEXT. 


203 


their  distance  from  such  means  of  grace.  In  the  northern 
part  of  the  city  a  large  number  of  artisans  and  clerks  on 
scanty  salaries  had  established  homes  for  themselves 
where  rents  were  cheaper.  Tliey  were,  for  the  most 
})art,  quiet,  respectable  people  who  would  go  to  church 
if  it  were  near  at  hand,  but  lacking  such  accommodation, 
had  gotten  into  the  way  of  spending  their  Sunday  as 
they  pleased,  without  taking  any  trouble  to  seek  out 
opportunities  of  religious  instruction. 

By  visiting  among  these  people,  Mr.  Sterling  had 
ascertained  leir  willingness  to  open  their  houses  for 
cottage  ir*  •  '^gs;  and  having  thus  prepared  the  field,  he 
now  proceeded  to  turn  into  it  the  workers  furnished  him 
by  the  Institute. 

Naturally  enough,  Donald,  Mr.  Heath,  and  Mr.  Kandall 
were  among  the  first  he  called  upon  for  this  service,  and 
they  were  all  pleased  when  he  proposed  that  they  three 
should  go  together. 

"It  is  a  rule  of  the  Jesuits,"  said  he,  smiling,  "that 
the  members  of  the  order  should  always  be  either  alone 
or  in  threes.  They  are  not  allowed  to  go  in  pairs,  the 
idea  being  that  thus  the  growth  of  intimate  friendships  is 
guarded  against.  I  have  no  such  idea  in  suggesting  that 
vou  three  should  work  together,  but  it  seems  to  me  vou 
will  make  a  good,  strong  corporals  guard,  admirably 
adapted  for  the  work  to  be  done.  Brother  Heath  can 
lead  the  singing,  and  Brother  Grant  and  Brother  Randall 
can  divide  the  speaking  and  praying  between  them. 
Thus  the  burden  of  work  will  be  fairly  shared,  and,  of 


-w'*^^ 


204 


D(A\\LD   grant's    DKVKLOPMENT. 


course,  you  can  always  make  such  changes  as  seem 
ex])edieut." 

The  arrangement  thus  outlined  met  with  hearty  aj)- 
proval.  Fred  Heath  possessed  quite  a  good  tenor  voice 
and  a  respectable  knowledge  of  music.  Randall  had 
a  decided  gilt  in  prayer,  and  Donald's  talent  certainly 
lay  in  the  direction  of  public  speaking;  so  that,  thus 
working  together,  they  would  be  able  to  supplement  one 
another  and  be  fully  equal  to  the  demands  of  any  ordi- 
nary occasion. 

The  meetings  were  to  be  held  on  Sunday  afternoon  at 
three  o'clock;  and  the  next  Sunday  after  the  completing 
of  the  organization  of  the  Institute,  the  three  young  men 
set  forth  to  an  a})pointment  already  arranged  by  Mr. 
Sterling.  The  day  was  bright  and  clear,  and  they  were 
in  excellent  spirits  despite  a  certain  feeling  of  nervous- 
ness common  to  all.  They  felt  strong  in  their  com- 
panionship, and  were  also  pleased  with  a  sense  of  the 
dignity  of  their  position.  For  the  first  time  in  their  lives 
they  were  on  their  own  responsibility,  not  subject  to  the 
direction  of  some  older  head.  Heath,  in  fact,  was  in  a 
state  of  high  good  humor  close  approaching  gayety,  and 
felt  constrained  to  make  a  lonirer  face  as  thev  came  into  the 
neighborhood  where  their  meeting  was  to  be  held. 

They  were  in  the  very  outskirts  of  the  city,  where  the 
streets  raveled  out,  as  it  were,  into  a  fringe  of  small 
cheap  cottages,  interspersed  with  vacant  lots  for  the  most 
part  unfenced.  Little  knots  of  men  loitered  idly  in  the 
sun  on  the  lee  side  of  the  street  corners,  smoking,  and 


.'o 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


205 


;s   as  seem 


chewing,  and  talking.  Women's  faces  peered  curiously 
out  from  the  front  windows  at  the  passers-by,  and  in 
spite  of  the  cold  air,  groups  of  children  played  in  the 
snow  as  noisily  as  though  they  knew  no  dillerenue  be- 
tween Sunday  and  Saturday. 

So  unpromising  a  state  of  afi'airs  could  hardly  fail  to 
throw  a  damper  upon  the  young  men's  enthusiasm. 

"  Prospects  do  not  seem  very  brilliant  for  our  meet- 
ing," said  Fred  Heath,  with  a  rueful  look  at  the  loung- 
ing men  and  shouting  children.  ''  Sunday  seems  to  be 
their  dav  out  around  here." 

"  I  am  afraid  vou  are  not  far  wronij,"  assented  Donald. 
"  They  certainly  do  not  look  like  people  who  would  take 
much  interest  in  a  prayer  meeting.  But  this  is  wiieie 
Mr.  Sterling  wants  us  to  begin,  and  that  is  tiie  house 
where  the  meeting  is  to  be  held,  just  ahead  of  us." 

The  house  was  one  of  the  largest  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  had  a  clean,  w^ell-kept  appearance.  As  they  ap- 
proached the  door,  it  was  opened  by  a  middle-aged 
woman,  who  met  them  with  a  smiling  countenance  and 
cordial  greeting : 

"  I  was  sitting  at  the  window  waiting  for  you  to  come," 
said  she,  looking  as  pleased  as  if  she  would  have  liked 
to  kiss  them  in  turn.  "  Mr.  Sterling,  God  bless  him, 
said  you  would  be  here  by  three  o'clock,  and  here  you 
are.  The  room  is  half  full  already,  and  there'll  be  more 
coming  in  yet." 

Thus  talking,  for  with  feminine  instinct  the  good 
woman  divined  that  the  vounjr  men  would  be  a  little 


206 


.'.• 


DONALD  GRANT. S  DEVKLOPMENT. 


strange  at  first  and  need  to  he  helped  to  feel  at  home, 
phe  u.-ihered  them  into  a  large  room  that  occupied  one 
side  of  her  house.  Here  they  found  themselves  face  to 
face  with  a  gathering  of  about  thirty  persons,  two-third.s 
of  whom  were  women  and  children.  They  were  seated 
on  rows  of  chairs  borrowed  for  the  occasion  V»y  the  mis- 
tress of  tlie  house,  and  had  taken  their  places  as  far 
away  from  the  chairs  ])rovided  for  the  conductors  of  the 
meeting  as  they  could  get.  Evidently  tiiey  felt  no  less 
strange  than  did  the  young  men. 

It  had  been  settled  on  the  way  out  that  Donald  should 
be  the  leader  of  the  little  meeting,  and  without  waste  of 
time  he  proceeded  to  business.  A  number  of  hymn 
books,  brought  for  the  purpose,  were  distributed  among 
the  audience,  a  familiar  hymn  given  out,  and  then  Fred 
Heath  led  off  with  his  clear,  sweet  tenor.  At  first  there 
was  some  hesitation,  but  presently  more  and  more  joined 
in  until  the  volume  of  sound  filled  the  house  and  poured 
out  into  the  street,  causing  the  children  to  cease  their 
play  that  they  might  listen,  and  tlie  loafing  mer-  to  draw 
nigh  in  basliful  curiosity.  When  the  hymn  was  finished, 
Randall  offered  a  brief,  earnest  prayer,  after  which 
Heath  read  a  chapter  from  the  New  Testament.  An- 
other hymn  followed,  and  then  Donald  gave  the  addres.*. 

After  a  good  deal  of  thought,  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  that  the  best  thing  he  could  do  was  to  take  the  life 
o^'f  Christ  and  speak  on  it,  from  time  to  time,  so  long  as 
he  should  take  part  in  the  meetings.  There  was  no  por- 
tion of  the  Scripture  with  which  he  was  more  familiar 


DONALD  OIUNT^S   DEVELOPMENT. 


207 


1  at  home, 
cupied  one 
ves  face  to 
,  two-thirds 
ixere  seated 
by  the  niis- 
aces  as  far 
ctor3  of  the 
felt  no  less 

nald  should 
lut  waste  of 
2r  of  hymn 
iiied  among 
i  then  Fred 
Lt  first  there 
more  joined 
and  poured 
cease  their 
aer-  to  draw 
WiVi  finished, 
after   which 
ment.     An- 
the  addres-. 
lade  up  his 
take  the  life 
!,  so  long  as 
was  no  por- 
ore  familiar 


than  the  Gospels.  They  had  always  held  an  especial  at- 
traction for  him,  and  he  felt  that  it  wouM  be  ea.«*ier  for 
him  to  prepare  addresses  suitable  to  the  occasion  from 
them  than  from  any  otiier  part  of  the  Biole. 

During  the  singing  a  good  many  more  people  had 
slipped  into  the  room  ;  so  that  when  he  began  Ut  speak  it 
was  comfortably  filled  with  an  audience  that  seemed  pre- 
pared to  give  him  the  closest  attention.  Greatly  to  his 
relief,  he  was  not  bothered  bv  tiiat  excessive  nervt)Usne.<"S 
which  had  oppressed  him  at  the  debating  society  and  tiic 
Institute  meeting.  He  loved  liis  subject ;  he  had  put 
his  thoughts  carefully  in  order  before  he  left  home  ;  he 
felt  inspired  by  the  fact  that  at  last  he  was  being  used  in 
the  Master's  service ;  and  the  eager,  interested  faces  of 
his  listeners  seemed  to  be  savins:  to  him:  "We  know 
vou  have  somethinj;  to  tell  us  that  will  be  for  our  L'ood, 
and  we  are  so  anxious  to  hear  it." 

No  wonder,  then,  that  both  thought  and  word  came 
freely,  and  that  as  he  enlarged  u})on  the  significance  of 
the  Saviour's  advent,  he  spoke  with  such  fluency  and 
force  that  his  companions  were  hardly  less  surprised  than 
delighted.  They  had  not  expected  him  to  display  so 
many  of  the  qualities  of  the  orator,  and  they  were  at 
times  strongly  tempted  to  applaud  his  well-rounded  sen- 
tences. 

As  for  the  little  congregation,  even  the  children  fell 
under  the  speaker's  sway  and  sat  still  upon  the  chairs, 
regarding  him  with  wide-open  eyes  and  listening  to  him 
wiih  wide-open  ears. 


208 


v»rr.> 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


Having  spoken  almost  half  an  hour, — and  it  seemed 
to  him  only  a  few  minutes, — he  brought  his  address  to  a 
close  with  an  earnest  appe:\l  to  his  hearers  to  let  Christ 
into  their  hearts,  that  through  him  they  might  be  born 
again,  and  become  heirs  of  eternal  life.  Then  came  an- 
other hymn,  and  then  a  few  words  of  prayer  from  Mr. 
Heath  concluded  the  meeting. 

As  the  people  passed  out,  the  young  men  stood  in  the 
hall  shaking  hands  with  them,  and  inviting  tliem  to 
come  again  the  next  Sunday  and  bring  as  many  of  their 
friends  as  thev  could. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid  of  too  manv  coming.  If  vou  can- 
not  all  get  into  this  room,  we  will  hunt  up  a  larger  one," 
called  out  Fied  Heath,  smiling  brightly.  ''Come  one, 
come  all,  and  bring  your  families." 

There  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  promise  of  the  new 
undertaking.  If  appearances  were  to  be  relied  upon, 
Heath's  hearty  invitation  would  meet  a  no  less  hearty 
response.  Good  Mrs.  Johnson,  the  mistress  of  the  house 
where  the  meeting  had  been  held,  was  overflowing  with 
gladness. 

"You  hav  great  gifts,  my  dear  young  gentlemen," 
said  she,  regarding  them  with  a  look  of  undisguised 
admiration  ;  "  and  oh,  how  beautiful  it  is  to  see  you  con- 
secrating them  to  the  Lord's  service  !  I'm  a  proud  woman 
to-day  because  of  this  meeting  in  my  house.  May  God 
'bless  vou,  and  niav  vou  live  long  to  work  for  him  as  you 
are  doing  now." 

The  three  friends  had  come  to  the  meeting  hopeful  and 


T. 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


209 


d  it  seemed 
address  to  a 
;o  let  Christ 
aht  be  born 
tien  came  an- 
er  from  Mr. 

11  stood  in  tbe 
ting  them  to 
many  of  their 

If  vou  can- 

a  larger  one," 

«'Come  one, 

ise  of  the  new 
relied  upon, 
no  less  hearty 
ss  of  the  hou^e 
rflowing  with 

g  gentlemen," 
3f  undisguised 
to  see  you  con- 
a  proud  woman 
..  May  God 
for  him  as  you 

in^  hopeful  and 


cheery.  They  went  away  exultant.  The  result  had  been 
far  better  than  their  brightest  expectations.  The  people 
had  heard  them  gladly.  Tiie  opening  meeting  had  proved 
a  success  in  every  particular,  and  it  only  now  remained 
to  follow  up  the  start  so  well  made,  in  order  that  great 
good  might  be  accomplished. 

*'Let  us  call  at  Mr.  Sterling's  and  tell  him  all  pbout 
it,"  suggested  Heath,  as  they  walked  briskly  back  to 
town. 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  others  promptly.  So  they  turned 
in  the  direction  of  the  pastor's  residence. 

As  it  happened,  he  opened  the  door  for  them,  and  his 
face  lighted  up  when  he  saw  them. 

"  Ah-ha  I  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  have  come  to  report 
— that  is  good  of  you.  Come  right  in  and  tell  me  all 
about  it.  I  know  it  was  a  success.  I  can  read  that  much 
in  your  faces,  but  I  am  eager  for  the  details." 

They  all  went  into  the  drawing  room,  where  Mrs.  Ster- 
liiiG:  received  them  warmlv,  and  drawing  their  chairs 
about  the  ruddy  fire  told,  between  them,  the  story  of  the 
afternoon.  The  pastor  was  greatly  pleased  at  the  recital ; 
pleased  that  his  new  recruits  had  done  so  well  in  their 
first  engagement,  and  pleased  that  they  had  been  appreci- 
ated and  secured  a  welcome  for  themselves  when  they 
went  again. 

"  A  grand  beginning,  brothers,"  he  cried,  exultantly. 
''  You  have  found  a  field  white  unto  the  harvest,  and  witii 
God's  blessing,  many  precious  sheaves  will  assuredly  be 

garnered  from  it.   I  love  to  look  far  ahead.    I  have  great 

o 


210 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


faith  in  the  future,  and  it  is  mv  earnest  belief  that  if  we 
follow  up  faithfully  the  work  begun  to-day,  before  many 
years  are  past  we  will  have  flourishing  churches  estab- 
lished in  the  verv  midst  of  those  neighborhoods  that  now 
have  not  even  a  Sunday  school.  Let  that  thought  renew 
your  strength  and  courage  if  they  should  seem  to  fail  you 
at  anv  time  ;  for  of  course  vou  will  meet  with  discourage- 
ments.  it  will  not  be  always  as  plain  sailing  as  it  was 
to-day,  you  know.*' 

"And  now  that  your  labors  are  over  for  the  day," 
added  Mrs.  Sterling,  "  you  must  all  stay  and  take  tea 
with  us." 

The  invitation  was  gladly  accepted,  and  then  tlie  talk 
went  on,  the  Institute  and  its  different  lines  of  work  being 
the  one  sufficient  subject. 

One  feature  of  the  inside  work  in  which  Donald  took 
a  lively  interest,  and  which  was  to  prove  exceedingly 
useful,  was  the  social  and  intellectual  department.  The 
organizers  of  the  Institute  of  couise  clearly  realized  that 
there  were  many  young  men  among  the  congregation  for 
whom  the  religious  work  would  as  yet  have  very  little 
attraction,  or  maybe  none  at  all.  Yet  they  were  the  very 
ones  who  ought  to  be  particularly  taken  into  account. 
Preparing  the  way  for  the  founding  of  future  churches 
in  the  suburbs  was  grand  good  work,  but  if  it  were  to  he 
looked  after  while  the  most  important  element  in  the 
community — the  young  men  who  would  in  time  be  the 
leaders  in  the  different  lines  of  life — was  being  allowed 
to  look  after  itself,  a  serious  error  would  be  made. 


DONALD  GRANT\s  DEVELOPMENT, 


211 


that  if  we 
ifore  many 
•ches  estab- 
ds  that  now 
)Ught  renew 
m  to  fail  you 
I  discourage- 
\(T  as  it  was 

3r  the  day," 
ind  take  tea 

:hen  the  talk 
of  work  being 

Donald  took 
exceedingly 
irtment.     The 
realized  that 
n"-reij:ation  for 
A-e  very  little 
were  the  very 
into  account. 
Iiture  churches 
if  it  were  to  he 
element  in  the 
[u  time  be  the 
being  allowed 
e  made. 


Into  this  error  Mr.  Sterling  and  liis  associates  did  not 
fall.  Side  by  side  with  the  provision  for  religious  activity, 
careful  provision  was  made  to  meet  desires  for  social  and 
intellectual  intercourse.  Mondav  niL'ht  had  been  decided 
upon  as  the  regular  night  of  meeting,  and  it  was  arranged 
that  the  character  of  the  service  should  be  alternate,  the 
religious  department  being  responsible  for  one  Monday 
and  the  social  and  intellectual  department  for  the  other, 
and  so  on  through  the  season. 

By  unanimous  vote,  Donald  hcid  been  elected  chairman 
of  the  committee  in  charge  of  the  latter  department,  and 
he  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  necessary  work.  His 
experience  with  his  reading  class  at  Rivervale  now  stood 
him  in  good  stead.  It  had  shown  him  clearly  how  general 
was  the  desire  for  mental  improvement,  and  tlie  way  in 
which  it  might  be  developed.  If  the  plain  farmer  folk 
of  the  settlement  had  appreciated  their  opportunity  so 
Iveenly,  how  much  more  would  tlie  bright,  shrewd,  sharp 
clerks  of  the  city.  The  methods  would,  of  course,  be 
different,  but  the  principle  underlying  them  would  be  the 
same. 

Associating  with  him  half  a  dozen  young  men  who  had 
been  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Sterling  as  competent  helpers, 
Donald  went  to  work  to  arrange  f (  r  a  course  of  readings 
and  debates,  that  would  give  full  opportunity  for  the 
members  of  the  Institute  to  exercise  their  intellectual 
powers  according  to  their  inclinations.  In  this  taslx  Mr. 
Randall  proved  a  most  valuable  lieutenant,  and  with 
occasional  aid  from  Mr.  Sterling,  a  programme  was  ere 


?■ 


212 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOI'MENT. 


long  mapped  out  that,  if  only  taken  up  in  the  same  spirit 
as  that  in  which  it  was  projected,  would  certainly  prove 
a  means  of  much  benefit,  as  well  as  enjoyment,  to  those 
attending  the  meetings. 

Thus  the  Young  Men's  Institute  was  not  only  launched, 
but  successfully  started  on  its  voyage.  As  might  be  ex- 
pected, it  iiad  to  stand  much  criticism  and  endure  "  the 
obloquy  of  newness  "  for  a  time.  But  if  ever  an  innova- 
tion justified  itself  this  one  did,  and  the  day  was  to  come 
when  the  most  persistent  croakers  would  dare  croak  no 
longer,  and  those  who  had  coldly  held  back  would  sorely 
regret  that  they  had  not  taken  hold  at  the  outset,  in  order 
that  they  might  have  some  share  in  the  good  results 
achieved. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


HONORS   ON  A   NEW   FIELD. 


TXTITH  his  entrance  into  active  religious  work,  there 
*  '  came  to  Donald  a  sense  of  the  grandeur  and  joy 
of  life  such  as  he  had  never  known  before.  It  was  as 
though  he  had  been  making  his  way  along  a  road  from 
which  but  commonplace  views  were  to  be  obtained,  and 
then  had  suddenly  reached  a  point  whence  a  glorious 
landscape  opened  out  before  him. 

Never  did  the  future  seem  so  fair  as  now.  In  himself 
there  was  the  impulse  to  go  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord, 
and  ready  rit  hand  were  the  opportunities  for  rendering 
that  help  under  the  most  favorable  auspices. 

For  such  a  nature  as  his  the  Institute  was  peculiarly 
adapted,  and  it  was  but  natural  that,  regarding  it  from 
his  own  standpoint,  he  felt  convinced  that  it  could  be 
adapted  to  all  young  men ;  and  he  made  a  promise  to 
himself  that  he  would  do  his  best  to  introduce  it  at  the 
Beechraount  Baptist  Church  while  he  was  home  for  the 
vacation.  Since  he  had  come  to  Chebucto,  the  venerable 
Dr.  Sternhoid  had  at  last  seen  fit  to  resign  his  charge ; 
and  his  successor  in  the  pulpit,  a  young  man  as  full  of 
life  and  eners'v  and  modern  ideas  as  the  other  had  been 
lacking  in  them,  was  reported  upon  by  Mrs.  Grant  in 
glowing  terms  of  praise. 

213 


-tt^f^mm 


2U 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


"  I  am  longing  for  you  to  come  home,  Donald,"  she 
wrote,  "  for  I  want  you  to  know  Mr.  Brookfield,  and  Mr. 
Brookfield  to  know  my  boy.  I  am  sure  you  will  take  to 
one  another  at  once.     He  is  a  splendid  man." 

From  all  accounts  that  came  to  him,  Mr.  Brookfield 
would  be  just  the  one  to  enter  enthusiastically  into  such 
a  scheme  as  the  Institute  if  he  deemed  it  feasible ;  and 
Donald  looked  forward  with  pleasant  anticipations  to  the 
time  when  he  would  ha\ .  tlr  importunity  of  presenting 
it  to  him. 

In  the  meantime  hij-  d;  -s  ^^\  nights  were  fully 
occupied.  In  no  degree  were  his  studies  permitted  to 
suffer  through  his  interest  in  other  things.  He  considered 
that  they  held  the  first  claim  upon  his  time,  and  he  had 
no  thought  of  refusing  to  honor  it.  But  he  put  careful 
method  into  his  affairs.  He  planned  his  time  so  well 
that  without  neglecting  any  branch  of  his  college  work 
he  could  attend  to  the  new  demand  upon  his  energies. 
In  fact,  in  them  he  found  recreation  rather  than  labor. 
Thev  were  so  different  from  the  routine  of  the  university, 
and  so  full  of  interest  to  him  that  they  did  not  weary ; 
they  refreshed  him. 

Nor  did  he  neglect  other  modes  of  recreation.  He 
brought  his  fondness  for  athletics  to  the  city  with  him, 
and  found  full  scope  for  the  exercise  of  all  his  physical 
energies  in  the  football  games,  which  were  a  regular 
feature  of  college  life  until  the  frost  closed  the  season ; 
and  then  in  the  skating,  for  which  the  many  lakes  and 
ponds  afforded  an  inviting  field.  .  . 


DONALD   GRANTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


215 


Before  the  football  season  ended  he  won  no  small 
reputation  as  a  player.  The  game  had  been  played  in  an 
imperfect  form  at  the  academy,  and  he  discovered  that  he 
hud  a  good  deal  to  learn  when  he  first  played  with  the 
students  ;  but  with  characteristic  vigor  he  set  himself  to 
master  the  novel  intricacies  and  by  the  end  of  a  month 
he  was  thoroughly  posted  in  all  the  rules  of  the  play. 

The  great  event  of  each  football  season  was  the  match 
between  the  city  club  and  the  university — the  Town  and 
Gown  match  as  it  was  called.  This  always  took  place  on 
Thanksgiving  day  if  the  weather  permitted,  and.  if  not, 
on  the  first  favorable  Saturdav  afternoon  following. 
Donald  had  not  been  many  times  out  to  practice  before 
the  captain  of  the  university  club,  one  of  the  juniors,  by 
name  Brownrigg,  noticing  the  vigor  and  judgment  of 
his  play,  decided  upon  him  as  a  promising  candidate  for 
the  team. 

"  I  hope  you  will  put  in  regular  practice  between  now 
and  Thanksgiving,  Grant,"  said  he,  as  they  walked  home 
from  the  field  one  afternoon.  '*  I  need  at  least  three  more 
good  men  to  make  up  my  team,  and  none  of  the  new 
fellows  play  the  game  that  you  do.  With  some  more 
practice  you  will  make  a  capital  quarter-back." 

Greatly  elated  at  this  pleasant  praise  from  so  high  an 
authority,  Donald  readily  promised  to  be  as  regular  as 
possible  at  practice.  So  every  fine  afternoon — and  all 
the  autumn  afternoons  are  fine  in  Chebucto — he  wended 
his  way  to  the  football  field  for  a  good  hour  of  running, 
dodging,  kicking,  collaring,  tumbling,  and  tripping,  thus 


216 


DONALD  grant's   DEVEI.UPMKNT. 


keeping  himself  in  fine  physical  trim  in  spite  of  long 
hours  in  the  classroom  and  over  his  books  at  home. 

As  Thanksgiving  day  drew  near,  the  football  match 
became  the  all-engrossing  subject  of  interest  among  the 
students.  The  qualifications  of  each  possible  member  of 
the  team  were  canvassed  and  criticised  as  though  the 
fate  of  the  country  depended  on  their  wit  and  wind  and 
limb.  Captain  Brownrigg  had  many  eager  applicants 
for  the  few  vacancies  there  were  to  fill.  Donald,  how- 
ever, was  not  among  these.  He  felt  within  himself  that 
he  ought  to  be  in  the  team,  but  he  did  not  say  so  even  to 
Mr.  Munroe.  If  he  were  asked,  he  would  promptly  con- 
sent. If  he  were  passed  by,  only  he  would  know  of  his 
disappointment. 

The  rule  was  for  the  team  to  be  made  up  a  full  week 
before  the  match,  and  then  to  play  together  in  the 
succeeding  practice.  Donald's  hopes  were  high  as  he 
hastened  out  to  the  field  on  the  afternoon  when  the 
captain's  selection  would  be  made  known.  He  did  want 
with  all  his  heart  to  be  a  player  in  the  great  annual 
match. 

He  had  been  detained  some  little  time  by  Prof.  Madill 
keeping  him  after  the  lecture  for  a  talk,  and  when  he 
arrived  the  play  seemed  about  to  commence.  His  heart 
sank  within  him. 

"  There,  now,"  he  exclaimed,  bitterly,  "  I  have  not 
been  chosen.  The  sides  are  already  made  up,  and  they 
are  just  beginning  to  play.  I  have  half  a  mind  to  turn 
back." 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


217 


Just  at  that  moment,  Captain  Brown rigg,  who  had 
been  looking  anxiously  about,  caught  sight  of  him  as  he 
stood  irresolute.  At  once  he  beckoned  frantically  to 
him,  shouting  loudly : 

"  Hurry  up,  Grant,  we're  all  waiting  for  you.  Get 
off  your  coat,  quick." 

The  revulsion  of  feeling  wrought  by  this  greeting 
fairly  electrified  Donald,  and  in  a  trice  hat  and  coat 
were  thrown  aside  and  he  stood  ready  for  action. 

"  You  are  to  play  quarter-back  on  the  right  side  of 
the  scrimmage.  Grant,"  were  Brown rigg's  directions. 
"  Play  your  prettiest  now.  Tiiey  are  nearly  two  to  our 
one." 

The  plan  adopted  was  for  the  team  to  play  together 
against  the  rest,  no  matter  how  many  they  might  be,  and 
after  this  fashion  the  practice  went  on  every  afternoon 
up  to  the  day  of  the  match. 

Donald  felt  very  proud  of  having  been  chosen,  and 
particularly  because  so  arduous  and  important  a  position 
had  been  assigned  to  him.  He  would  have  full  oppor- 
tunity to  exercise  his  speed  and  endurance  to  the  utmost, 
and  the  morning  of  Thanksoivino^  found  him  in  such  a 
state  of  excitement  that  it  must  be  confessed  he  heard 
very  little  of  Mr.  Sterling's  sermon,  and  remembered 
less. 

The  day  proved  as  fine  as  heart  could  wish,  bright  and 
clear,  cool  enough  to  render  exertion  easy,  but  not  so 
chilly  as  to  make  spectators  uncomfortable.  Tlie  match 
took  place  upon  the  grounds  of  the  city  club,  and  early 


218 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


in  the  afternoon  the  stands  were  tilled  with  spectators 
representing  both  the  univer:*ity  and  the  city.  Promptly 
at  three  o'clock  the  two  teams  appeared  on  the  field  and 
were  greeted  with  a  round  of  cheers.  The  college  colors 
were  black  and  yellow,  those  of  their  opponents,  the 
Wanderers,  black  and  red.  Both  sets  of  players  looked 
extremely  well  as  they  took  up  their  positions,  the  stu- 
dents seeming  a  somewhat  heavier  lot,  the  Wanderers 
more  wiry  and  airile.  Bv  nmtual  consent  Prof  McLeod 
was  appointed  referee.  He  had  been  a  famous  player  in 
his  college  days,  and  tlie  city  boys  had  no  less  confidence 
in  his  impartiality  tlian  in  his  knowledge  of  the  game. 

It  would  take  too  long  to  follow  closely  the  course  of 
the  contest.  Amid  cheers  and  shouts  and  college  cries, 
the  thirty  strongand  swift  young  men  battled  earnestly, 
but  good-humoredly,  for  the  possession  of  the  leather 
spheroid ;  and  now  fortune  favored  the  black  and  red, 
and  again  it  veered  around  to  the  side  of  the  black  and 
gold.  During  the  first  half  no  point  was  gained  on 
either  side,  so  evenlv  were  the  teams  matched,  and  after 
the  usual  rest  they  took  their  places  again,  each  man 
determined  that  something  decisive  should  be  done. 

Alter  fifteen  minutes  of  intense  and  exciting  strug- 
gling, a  tremendous  volley  of  cheers  announced  that  the 
Wanderers  had  won  a  touchdown.  Thev  had  slowlv 
forced  the  ball  into  their  opponents'  territory.  The  Uni- 
versity full-back  had  fumbled  the  bail  at  a  critical  mo- 
ment, and  their  lightning  quarter-back,  an  amateur 
sprinter  of  renown,  had  made  the  most  of  the  opportu- 


r. 


IX)NALD   GRAFTS   DEVELOPMENT. 


219 


I  spectators 
Promptly 
he  field  and 
)llege  colors 
)onent3,  the 
lyers  looked 
)ns,  the  stu- 
!  Wanderers 
rof.  McLeod 
us  player  in 
3S  confidence 
the  game, 
he  course  of 
oUege  cries, 
;d  earnestly, 

the  leather 
ck  and  red, 
le  black  and 
s  gained  on 
sd,  and  after 
n,  each  man 
le  done. 
:citing  strug- 
iced  that  the 
'  had  slowly 
V.     The  Uni- 

critical  mo- 
an amateur 
the  opportu- 


nity. Happily,  however,  the  place-kick  failed,  and  the 
touchdown  was  not  converted  into  a  goal.  Tiien  the  two 
teams  nerved  themselves  for  a  final  struggle,  and  then, 
as  it  happened,  came  Donald's  opportunity. 

He  had  been  doing  grand  work  up  to  this  point. 
Many  a  charging  Wanderer  had  he  cleverly  tackled  and 
stopped  in  his  wild  career.  Many  a  useful  plunge  into, 
or  dodge  around,  the  opposing  rush  line  had  he  made, 
gaining  more  or  less  good  yards  every  time.  But  not 
one  favorable  chance  for  a  run  into  the  goal  presented 
itself  until  within  five  minutes  of  the  end  of  the  last 
half. 

The  ball  had  been  worked  down  bv  the  black  and  red 
inside  the  University  twenty-five  yard  line,  and  the  aspect 
of  affairs  was  decidedly  blue.  Confident  of  securing  an- 
other touchdown,  the  Wanderers'  captain  signalled  for 
it  to  be  snapped  back  out  of  the  scrimmage  to  the  light- 
footed  sprinter.  The  latter  snatched  it  up  and  started 
to  run  around  the  rush  line,  while  the  rushers  of  his 
team  pressed  forward  to  supj)ort  him. 

Donald,  grasping  the  situation  in  an  instant,  darted 
like  an  arrow  to  meet  the  runner,  and  as  they  met  he 
struck  the  ball,  held  tight  under  the  other's  arm,  a  sharp 
blow  with  the  palm  of  his  hand  that  sent  it  flying  from 
his  grip.  Hardly  had  it  touched  the  ground  than,  quick 
as  a  flash,  he  picked  it  up  and  started  for  tiie  Wander- 
ers' goal,  wiiile  the  whole  mass  of  spectators  broke  out 
into  a  wild  roar  of  delight  at  the  brilliancy  of  the  feat. 

Only  two  of  his  opponents  were  between  him  and  the 


220 


DONALD  grant's  DEVKLOPMENT. 


goal — the  half-back  and  tlie  full-back  or  goal  keeper ; 
and  the  former,  having  imagined  that  the  phiy  wouhl 
be  on  the  other  side  of  the  field,  had  to  run  diaj^onallv 
in  order  to  meet  him.  This  half-back  was  a  sure  tackier 
but  a  Aow  dodger,  and  Donald,  as  he  ran,  conceived  his 
action  accordingly. 

Hard  as  he  had  been  working  hitherto,  he  was  fitill 
comparatively  fresh  and  strong ;  for  he  possessed  rare 
powers  of  endurance.  Inspired  now  by  the  prospect  of 
winning  a  touchdown  tluit  could  hardly  fail  to  be  made 
into  a  goal,  and  thrilled  as  with  electricity  by  the  shouts 
of  the  spectators  rolling  across  the  field  in  great  waves 
of  sound,  he  shot  down  the  open  space  at  a  speed  that 
left  all  the  other  players  hopelessly  behind. 

Bearing  down  upon  him  from  the  left  came  the 
AVanderers'  half-back,  his  face  set  in  fierce  determination. 
Once  his  powerful  grip  fastened  on  the  daring  runner, 
his  career  would  be  brought  to  a  full  stop.  But  that  was 
not  to  be.  Just  as,  with  arm  outstretched,  he  sought  to 
hurl  himself  upon  the  black  and  yellow  jersey,  Donald 
suddenly  stopped  short  and  then  darted  off  to  the  left, 
while  his  foiled  opponent,  missing  his  grip,  pitched  for- 
ward prone  upon  the  turf;  and  the  almost  frenzied  on- 
lookers rose  from  their  seats,  yelling  and  screaming  as 
though  they  would  fain  split  their  throats. 

The  full-back,  seeing  his  comrade's  downfall,  now 
planted  himself  right  in  front  of  the  goal  posts,  resolved 
not  to  charge  until  he  was  quite  sure  as  to  Donald's  direc- 
tion.    On  came  the  latter,  the  ball  held  tiffht  under  his 


r. 

){il  keeper  ; 
play  would 
diagonallv 
•lire  tackier 
nceived  his 

he  was  still 
•sessed  rare 
prospect  of 
to  be  made 
r  the  shouts 
great  waves 
speed  that 

came  the 
termination, 
•ing  runner, 
^ut  that  was 
le  sought  to 
sev,  Donald 
to  the  left, 
pitched  for- 
frenzied  on- 


creaming  as 


wnfall,  now 
»srs,  resolved 
mold's  direc- 
it  under  his 


i 


^ 


Donald  fJrant. 


Page  220. 


lai'wiCHenw 


1     a: 


DONALD  GRA2«t's  DEVELOPMENT. 


221 


arm,  and  every  nerve  and  muscle  strained  to  their 
utmost.  At  what  he  thought  to  be  the  proper  moment 
the  goal  keeper  threw  himself  upon  him.  Instead  of 
evading  the  charge,  Donald  met  it  squarely.  The  two 
collided  with  a  thud  that  was  audible  half-wav  down  the 
field.  For  one  thrillins;  instant  thev  seemed  to  be  inex- 
tricably  tangled  up,  then  Donald,  still  retaining  the  ball, 
was  seen  to  roll  out  of  his  opponent's  grasp,  to  pick  him- 
self up  with  panther-like  agility,  and  although  staggering 
sJightly, — for  the  shock  had  told  upon  him, — to  complete 
his  wonderful  run  by  pressing  onward  until  he  was  right 
behind  the  centre  of  the  goal,  where  he  touched  the  ball 
fiiirly  down  just  one  moment  before  the  fleet  sprinter 
precipitated  himself  upon  his  back,  flatiening  him  out  on 
top  of  the  ball ! 

Never  had  such  clieers  been  heard  on  the  Wanderers* 
field  before  as  then  made  the  welkin  ring.  The  fact  tiiat 
a  University  player  had  secured  what  would  probably  be 
a  decisive  advantage  did  not  lessen  one  whit  the  vigor  of 
the  applause  of  the  Wanderers'  friends ;  and  the  students, 
it  need  hardly  be  said,  became  for  the  moment  something 
akin  to  howling  dervishes. 

Then  came  a  lull ;  for  the  place-kick  was  to  be  tried 
and  all  held  their  breath  to  watch  the  issue  of  the  attempt. 
Captain  Brownrigg  took  the  responsibility,  and  with  a 
gentle  kick  sent  the  ball  in  graceful,  parabolic  flight  over 
the  very  centre  of  the  crossbar.  Once  more  cheers 
broke  out.  It  was  a  beautiful  goal,  and  the  black  and 
yellow  now  had  the  best  of  the  game. 


.-^^ 


222 


DONALD   grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


In  the  few  minutes  of  play  that  remained  the  Wan- 
derers made  heroic  exertions  to  add  some  more  points  to 
their  score,  but  in  vain ;  and  the  final  result  was  a  goal 
as  against  a  **  try  "'  in  favor  of  the  University. 

The  moment  Professor  McLeod  called  "time,"  the 
members  of  his  team  made  a  rush  for  Donald,  lifted  him 
up  on  their  shoulders,  and  bore  him  to  the  pavilion  in 
triumph,  where  a  perfect  ovation  awaited  him  at  the 
hands  of  his  opponents,  who  showered  congratulations 
upon  him  for  his  splendid  run. 

Many  a  good  game  of  football  did  he  have  after  that, 
and  many  a  hardly  contested  match  did  he  take  part  in ; 
for,  like  a  wise  youth,  he  kept  up  his  interest  in  that  fine 
form  of  physical  exercise  to  the  end  of  his  university 
course.  But  never  again  had  he  the  opportunity  to 
achieve  quite  so  brilliant  a  performance  as  at  his  first 
match,  and  the  story  of  that  wonderful  run  is  still  told  at 
Chebucto  and  the  scene  of  it  pointed  out  to  admiring 
Freshmen. 

Not  long  after  the  football  season  closed  the  skating 
season  opened.  Chebucto  oflTered  every  possible  facility 
to  the  skater  for  the  enjoyment  of  that  glorious  sport. 
About  the  city,  aside  from  the  covered  rinks,  tiiere  were 
numerous  ponds,  large  and  small,  which  asked  but  little 
frost  to  turn  them  into  shining  mirrors ;  and  then  by 
crossinorthe  harbor  and  walkinir  a  mile  into  the  countrv, 
y9u  reached  a  chain  of  lakes  lying  amid  forests  of  spruce 
and  pine,  upon  wliich  you  could  speed  for  mile  after  mile 
into  the  heart  of  a  romantic  wilderness. 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


223 


There  was  always  plenty  of  skating  at  Rivervale,  and 
Donald  had  mastered  the  art  in  a  rather  rough,  rustic 
fashion,  perhaps,  but  sufficiently  well  to  make  the  exercise 
a  pure  delight  to  him.  One  morning  at  Chebucto,  after 
the  Frost  Kint^  had  been  busy  for  some  davs,  Donald 
found  by  his  place  at  the  breakfast  table  a  package 
which,  on  being  opened,  proved  to  be  a  beautiful  pair  of 
spring  skates — a  present  from  his  ever-thoughtful  friend. 

"My  skating  days  are  over,"  said  he,  when  Donald 
warmly  thanked  him.  *'  I  was  very  fond  of  the  exercise 
once.  But  now  I  shall  have  to  do  it  by  deputy,  and  I 
want  you  to  be  my  deputy  this  winter.  You  will  think 
the  lake  a  perfect  fairyland  if  I  am  not  much  mistaken." 


:ii 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


A   TI'12LY   SERVICE. 


ON  the  first  Saturday  that  was  favorable  for  skating 
on  the  lake  Donald,  with  two  of  his  fellow-students, 
set  out  for  this  "fairy  land,"  as  Mr.  Munroe  had  called  it. 
The  afternoon  was  a  glorious  one,  and  having  left  the 
smoke  and  dust  and  din  of  tlie  city  far  behind,  they  were 
presently  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  first  lake. 

Straight  before  them  and  spreading  out  on  either  hand 
lay  a  glistening  expanse,  whose  polished  surface,  as  it 
flashed  back  the  briL^ht  sunshine,  seemed  to  be  savinir, 
*'  Come  and  enjoy  me.     I  am  to  be  trusted  implicitly." 

Three  unbroken  miles  in  length  and  more  than  one  in 
width,  the  icy  plain  awaited  them  in  its  virgin  purity. 
With  feverish  haste  they  snapped  iheir  Acmes  on  and 
dashed  laughingly  upon  the  ice. 

*•  Now,  fellows,"  shouted  Donald,  as  he  shot  away, 
"  let  us  see  who  can  get  to  the  head  of  the  lake  first." 

His  companions  promptly  responded  to  the  challenge, 
and  the  three  were  in  a  moment  reveling  in  the  su- 
premest  luxury  of  motion.  The  crisp,  cool  air  seemed 
charged  with  electricity,  and  the  blood  bounded  through 
tli^ir  throbbing  pulses. 

"  Isn't  it  simply  glorious?  "  cried  Donald,  as  they  sped 
on  toward  the  farther  shore,  every  stroke  of  their  steel- 
224 


».'m' 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


225 


for  skating 
w-students, 
id  called  it. 
ng  left  the 
i,  they  were 

either  hand 
rface,  as  it 
J  be  savinjT, 
plicitlv." 
than  one  in 
gin  purity. 
Qos  on  and 

shot  away, 
e  first." 

s  challenge, 
in  the  su- 
air  seemed 

led  through 

Ls  they  sped 
their  steel- 


shod  feet  counting  for  a  good  throe  yards  at  least.  He 
was  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight,  and  put  forth  such  exertions 
as  to  nearly  distance  his  companions. 

Presently  the  fir-clad  shores  drew  togetlier  until  tliey 
seemed  to  meet  and  put  a  bar  to  further  progress.  But 
no — a  cunning  turn  to  the  right,  a  quick  dash  over  the 
dangerous  spot  where  the  restless  current  prevented  the 
ice  from  growing  as  thick  as  it  ought  to  be,  and  behold, 
Donald  was  out  upon  the  second  lake,  still  larger  than 
the  first,  and  dotted  here  and  there  with  tiny  evergreen 
islets  that  looked  like  emeralds  in  a  silver  setting. 

He  waited  for  the  others  here,  and  then  the  three  went 
von  more  slowly  together,  exploring  the  passages  between 
the  islets  and  the  snug  sequestered  coves  that  broke  the 
shore  line  of  the  lake.  It  was  an  experience  of  unal- 
loyed enjoyment  for  Donald.  He  had  never  before  found 
such  delight  in  skating,  and  he  felt  profoundly  grateful 
to  Mr.  Munroe  for  providing  him  with  the  means  of 
obtaining  such  inspiring  pleasure. 

But  this  afternoon  was  to  be  memorable  to  him  not 
only  because  of  the  happiness  the  skating  afforded  him. 
He  was  to  render  a  service  to  Prof.  Thomson,  the  one- 
armed  Professor  of  Classics  at  Chebucto  Universitv,  that 
made  the  day  one  not  to  be  forgotten  by  either  his  teacher 
or  himself.     This  was  the  way  in  which  it  came  about. 

There  were  a  good  many  skaters  on  the  lakes  that 
afternoon,  and  among  them  was  Professor  Thomson,  who 
did  not  allow  his  loss  of  one  arm  to  put  any  restraint 
upon  the  use  of  his  two  legs,  and  was  accordingly  quite 


226 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


an  enthusiastic  skater.  As  the  early  dusk  of  the  winter 
evening  carae  on,  Donald's  companions  thought  that  they 
had  all  better  be  getting  home,  but  he  was  very  loth  to 
leave  the  lakes  that  seemed  even  more  fascinating  with 
the  deepening  shadows  throwing  a  veil  of  mystery  about 
their  distant  reaches  than  they  did  in  the  full  glory  of 
the  sunshine.  So  he  bade  them  push  on  ahead,  and  he 
would,  after  a  little,  catch  up  with  them. 

This  was  near  the  top  of  the  second  lake,  and  when 
the  other  two  took  him  at  his  word  he  was  left  quite  alone 
as  he  thought,  and  he  found  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  being 
so.  For  a  little  while  he  dallied  in  the  apparent  solitude 
of  ice,  and  then  with  a  sigh  of  regret  that  he  had  to  leave 
it  turned  to  follow  his  companions. 

He  had  not  gone  manv  vards  when  there  came  to  him 
through  the  still  evening  air  a  sound  that  seemed 
strangely  like  the  cry  of  "  Help  I  "  He  wheeled  about 
and  peered  eagerly  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound 
came,  but  could  make  out  nothing  save  a  dark  spot  on  the 
ice  in  one  of  the  coves  that  suggested  nothing  human  ;  so 
swinging  round  he  struck  out  once  more,  when  again  the 
cry  of  "  Help !  help !  "  this  time  repeated  so  that  there 
could  be  no  mistake  about  it,  smote  upon  his  ears. 

He  was  not  one  to  refuse  any  such  appeal,  and  as  the 
dark  spot  in  the  cove  seemed  to  be  the  only  possible 
source  of  the  crv,  he  hastened  toward  it  with  strenuous 
strokes.  As  he  neared  it,  he  saw  a  human  form,  and 
coming  closer  was  amazed  to  recognize  the  long,  sharp 
face  and  attenuated  figure  of  Professor  Thomson. 


1 


DOXALD  GRANTS  DEVELOPMENT. 


227 


"  Ah,  Grant,"  said  the  professor  in  a  tone  of  relief,  yet 
without  any  trace  of  pain  or  anxiety,  "  I  am  very  glad 
you  heard  me.  I  am  very  much  afraid  I  have  broken 
my  leg,  and  you  will  have  to  help  me  off  the  ice,  and  get 
me  back  to  town  somehow." 

As  much  taken  aback  by  the  composed  way  in  which 
this  was  said  as  by  what  it  meant,  Donald  stammered 
out,  "  Broken  your  leg,  sir.     Surely  not." 

In  spite  of  his  suffering.  Professor  Thomson  smiled  at 
his  earnestness.  "There  is  no  doubt  at  all  about  it, 
Grant.  My  right  leg  is  broken  just  above  the  ankle. 
How  can  you  get  me  to  the  road,  do  you  think  ?  " 

Donald  looked  about  him.  There  was  not  even  a 
board  within  sight  out  of  which  a  sort  of  toboggan  might 
have  been  extemporized.  He  was  nonplussed  for  the 
moment,  and  regarded  the  helpless  professor  lying  there 
so  patiently  in  blank  bewilderment.  Suddenly  a  scheme 
flashed  into  his  mind  that  seemed  feasible. 

"Just  wait  a  moment,  sir,"  said  he.  "I  think  I  can 
manage  it." 

Darting  over  to  one  of  the  islets,  he  pulled  out  his 
pocket  knife  and  proceeded  to  cut  down  a  small  spruce, 
about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  Christmas  tree.  Hastening 
back  to  Professor  Thomson  with  this,  he  unfolded  his 
plan.  "  I  am  afraid  it  will  hurt  dreadfully,  sir,"  said  he, 
*'  but  I  cannot  think  of  anything  better.  If  you  will  just 
put  your  arm  around  this  tree  and  hold  on  tiglit,  I  will 
drag  it  down  the  lake  until  we  reach  the  road,  where 
we  will  no  doubt  be  able  to  get  a  wagon." 


228 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


The  professor  looked  at  the  tree  and  smiled.  "  It  is 
not  for  those  in  such  desperate  straits  as  I  am  at  this 
moment  to  be  over  particul'T,"  said  he.  "That  will 
not  make  an  easy  conveyance,  but  it  seems  the  best  we 
can  do." 

So,  without  a  groan  or  murmur,  although  the  agony 
must  have  been  indescribable,  he  clasped  the  spruce 
tightly,  and  Donald,  seizing  it  by  the  butt,  set  out 
sturdily  upon  his  toilsome  task.  It  was  a  tremendous 
undertaking  for  both ;  but  the  only  alternative  was  to 
leave  the  injured  man  upon  the  ice. 

Right  manfully  Donald  tugged  away,  and  most  heroic- 
ally the  professor  bore  his  suffering  until  at  last;  after 
many  pauses  for  rest,  the  bottom  of  the  second  lake  was 
reached.  Here,  to  the  great  joy  of  both,  there  were  some 
other  skaters  still  lingering.  These  gladly  came  to 
Donald's  assistance,  and  he,  leaving  the  professor  in  their 
hands,  went  on  to  the  foot  of  the  lake  where  there  were 
some  houses  beside  the  road.  At  one  of  these  he  obtained 
an  express  wagon.  In  the  bottom  of  this  was  placed  a 
thick,  mattress  and  plenty  of  blankets,  and  so  the  sufferer 
was  taken  carefully  to  his  home. 

In  spite  of  the  trying  circumstances  surrounding  his 
accident,  Professor  Thomson  recovered  from  its  effects 
with  remarkable  rapidity,  and  seemed  never  to  weary 
of  manifesting  his  gratitude  to  Donald  for  the  timely 
service  he  had  rendered  him.  He  presented  him  with 
a  handsome  volume  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion,  and 
throughout  the  whole  of  his  college  course  showed  warm 


DOXALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


229 


interest  in   liim  that  was  very  much   appreciated  by 
Donald  himself. 

Thus,  in  study  and  in  recreation,  in  work  for  himself,  and 
in  work  for  the  church  of  Christ,  the  winter  months  slipped 
rapidly  and  happily  away.  Donald's  letters  home— and 
he  was  a  faithful  correspondent— were  always  full  of 
bright  description  and  cheery  comment  that  made  them 
the  delight  of  the  home  at  Rivervale.  The  whole  settle- 
ment there  was  interested  in  his  career,  and  it  even  ex- 
tended to  the  village,  where  Mr.  Patterson  received 
regular  accounts  of  the  progress  of  his  favorite  pupil. 


m 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


m 


A  YOUNG  People's  church. 

^^  ITTHAT  a  regular  steam  engine  you  are,  Donald  I  " 
»  »  said  Mr.  Munroe  to  liim  one  evening,  with  an 
admiring  look.  "  You  go  straight  on  day  after  day  and 
night  after  night,  without  ever  seeming  to  get  tired  or 
wanting  to  rest  for  a  while  just  for  a  little  change. 
"What  with  your  studies  and  your  church  services  and 
your  Institute,  you  are  as  busy  as  a  bee  in  clover  time. 
You  really  make  me  feel  ashamed  of  myself — poor  use- 
less idler  that  I  am." 

The  last  words  were  spoken  with  a  shade  of  bitterness 
in  the  tone  tliat  did  not  escape  Donald,  and  he  answered 
them  rather  than  what  went  before  them. 

"  Indeed  you  are  not  a  poor  useless  idler,"  he  cried, 
indignantly.  "  If  any  one  else  than  you  dared  to  say 
that  I  would  knock  him  down.  What  would  I  ever  have 
done  without  you?  and  I  am  not  by  any  means  the  only 
one  to  whom  you  have  been  good.  I  have  heard  more 
about  your  kind  and  generous  doings  than  perhaps  you 


imagine. 


» 


A  wonderfully  pleased  look  came  into  Mr.  Munroe's 
palp  face,  chasing  away  the  frown  that  it  had  worn  the 
moment  before. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  said  he,  earnestly,  "  it  is  very  good  of 
280 


DONALD   G rant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


2:U 


you  to  say  such  nice  thing.s,  and  they  do  me  good,  because 
I  know  you  mean  them ;  and  it  is  an  inspiration  to  find 
you  putting  so  much  faith  in  me.  For  whatever  help  it 
has  been  my  good  fortune  to  be  able  to  reuder  you,  Don- 
ald, you  have  already  repaid  me  a  hundred  fold.  Tiie 
very  way  you  go  about  your  work  stirs  me  up  and  makes 
me  desirous  of  being  some  kind  of  a  worker  myself." 

They  had  a  long  talk  together  on  this  line  that  night, 
in  the  course  of  which  Donald — as  delicately  as  possible, 
for  he  knew  his  friend's  sensitive  nature — urged  him  to 
seek  in  religious  work  the  field  of  work  he  felt  he  ought 
to  enter ;  and  although  Mr.  Muuroe  with  graceful  skill 
parried  his  arguments,  yet  not  in  any  \\ay  making  light 
of  them,  there  was  something  in  his  manner  and  spirit 
that  caused  Donald  to  feel  very  hopeful  that  this  would 
be  the  outcome  ere  long,  and  to  pray  for  his  friend  hence- 
forth with  stronger  faith  than  ever  before. 

In  his  Institute  work  Donald  found  increasing  pleas- 
ure. The  Sunday  afternoon  meetings  were  becoming 
such  a  success  that  thev  now  had  to  be  held  in  a  hall  in 
order  to  accommodate  the  congregation,  and  the  people 
were  airt  tal  icing  of  putting  up  a  building  during  the 
.iiier  in  which  Sundav-school  as  well  as  service  could 
oe  held. 

H'  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  assistance  from  other 
members  of  the  Institute  in  the  carrying  on  of  the  meet- 
ings. Indeed,  so  niaii  >  were  willing  to  lend  a  hand  that 
an  evening  service  during  the  week  was  also  established, 
which  soon  grew  to  satisfactorv  proportions. 


1^^^ 


232 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


i 


The  inside  work  of  the  Institute  was  no  less  successful. 
The  Monday  evening  meetings  steadily  increased  in  in- 
terest, and  Mr.  Sterling:  had  cause  for  no  other  feelintrs 
than  pride  and  satisfaction  in  regard  to  the  new  de- 
parture. 

"  There  will  be  other  churches  in  this  city  and  else- 
where following  our  example  before  long,''  he  said  to 
Donald,  as  they  walked  home  together  one  evening.  I 
have  had  several  of  my  fellow-pastors  making  inquiries 
of  me,  and  have  even  had  letters  from  other  places  on 
the  same  subject.  Believe  me,  Grant,  the  day  is  not  far 
distant  when  no  self-respecting  church  will  consider  it- 
self properly  organized  without  something  like  our  Insti- 
tute. What  a  glorious  day  for  our  church  that  will  be 
when  its  young  people,  no  longer  confined  to  the  limited 
sphere  of  the  Sunday-school,  but  admitted  into  partici- 
pation in  active  work  to  the  full  extent  of  their  capabili- 
ties, come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  migtity 
forces  of  evil,  singing  and  shouting  in  all  the  ardor  and 
hopefulness  of  their  young  st  ;ength  !  God  grant  that  I 
may  live  to  see  it." 

Donald  listened  with  glistening  eyes.  It  was  an 
inspiring  prospect  that  the  preacher  outspread  before 
him. 

"  Indeed,  I  hope  you  will,  sir,"  he  responded,  fervently. 
"  And  that  I  will  too.  As  soon  as  I  can  after  I  get  home, 
I  ap  going  to  see  if  an  Institute  cannot  be  started  in 
connection  with  our  church  in  the  village.  Old  Dr. 
Sternhold  resigned  some  time  ago,  you  know,  and  there 


f 


..-r..? 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


233 


has  come  in  his  place  a  young  man — Mr.  Brookfield — 
who  mother  says  is  just  full  of  life  and  spirit,  and  the 
very  kind  of  man  to  take  hold  of  such  a  thing 
heartilv." 

"  Be  sure  you  do,  Grant,"  answered  Mr.  Sterling,  giv- 
ing him  an  affectionate  clap  on  the  back.  "  I  know 
something  of  Brookfield,  and  he  is  just  the  man  to  take 
a  good  grip  of  a  new  idea  like  our  Institute.  If  you 
will  let  me  laiow  when  you  are  about  to  open  fire  on  the 
subject,  I  will  write  him  a  letter  telling  him  my  expe- 
rience." 

*'  Oh,  that  will  be  capital !  "  exclaimt '.  Donald.  ''  I 
will  certainly  let  you  know  when  to  write." 

And  so  it  was  settled  between  them  that  thev  two 
would  do  their  best  to  assist  in  getting  an  Institute  or- 
ganized at  Beechmount  during  the  university  vacation. 

This  vacation  was  not  far  oflT  now,  and  with  the  near* 
ing  of  the  close  of  the  colleire  vear  Donald's  devotion  to 
his  studies  increased.  He  allowed  himself  no  other 
recreation  than  he  found  in  religious  work,  and  early 
and  late  bent  over  his  books,  preparing  for  the  approach- 
ing examinations. 


!■  !! 


ill 
1| 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  CLOSE  OF   THE   COLLEGE   YEAR. 


\ 


THE  university  examinations  were  held  during  the 
last  two  weeks  of  the  month  of  April  in  each  year. 
Only  written  examinations  were  held.  The  time  did  not 
permit  of  oral  ones,  and  a  high  standard  of  excellence 
was  required  in  the  answers. 

Donalds  chief,  indeed  it  might  be  said  only,  anxiety 
so  far  at  least  as  "  passing  "  was  concerned,  was  the  ex- 
amination in  mathematics.  With  regard  to  the  other 
subjects  he  rightly  enough  felt  quite  at  ea&e.  What 
worried  him  most  about  the  mathematics  was  that 
the  more  he  worked  at  them  the  more  confused  his 
mind  seemed  to  get.  Tlie  hard  problems  became  only 
harder,  and  the  much  desired  solutions  all  the  more 
aggravatingly  evasive  as  he  knitted  his  brows  over  them 
night  after  nii^ht. 

In  this  emergency  there  came  to  him  relief  from  an 

unexpected  quarter.    Among  his  classmates  was  one  with 

whom  he  had  never  been  able  to  become  in  anv  wise 

intimate.     He  was  a  Scotch  school  teacher  from  a  remote 

country  district,  who  seemed  to  have  no  desire  to  make 

thp  acquaintance  of  any  one  of  his  fellow-students.     He 

lived  entirely  to  himself,  and  was  evidently  as  poor  as 

he  was  proud.    But  he  was  a  marvel  at  mathematics. 
234 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


235 


during  the 

I  each  year. 

ime  did  not 

excellence 

tily,  anxiety 
was  the  ex- 
,0  the  other 
!a&e.  What 
3  was  that 
onfused  liis 
)ecame  onlv 
1  the  more 
s  over  them 

ief  from  an 
^as  one  with 
in  anv  wise 
um  a  remote 
ire  to  make 
idents.  He 
as  poor  as 
lathematics. 


^'1 


If  he  was  strong  in  mathematics,  however,  he  was  weak 
in  classics.  His  early  opportunities  had  been  very  sliglit. 
It  was  all  hard,  uphill  fighting  for  him,  and  without 
Donald  knowing  it,  this  man,  by  name  Lindsay,  had 
been  watching  the  ease  with  which  he  surmounted  the 
difficulties  of  translation  or  grammar  that  bewildered 
him. 

To  Donald,  then,  one  day  just  a  fortniglit  before  the 
examinations,  came  this  man,  and  in  his  own  awkward, 
abrupt  way  made  a  proposal  that  the  other  accepted 
without  hesitation. 

**  Mr.  Grant,"  said  he,  with  a  curiously  eager  L,ok  in 
his  dark  gray  eyes  as  though  he  greatly  feared  the  failure 
of  his  mission,  "  vou  have  no  trouble  with  vour  classics. 
They  seem  to  come  naturally  to  you  just  as  mathematics 
do  to  me.  But  you  don't  find  the  mathematics  quite  so 
easy,  any  more  than  I  do  the  classics.  So  I  thought 
perhaps  we  might  help  each  other  if  you  would  be  willing. 
There  is  a  whole  fortnight  yet.  Could  we  manage  to 
work  together  for  a  couple  of  hours  each  c''^y?  We 
would  go  over  all  the  work,  you  know,  and  whai  one  did 
not  know  the  other  could  tell  h'm." 

As  much  delighted  as  surprised  by  this  unlooked-for 
but  most  welcome  request,  Donald  answered,  heartily : 

"  That  IS  a  splendid  idea,  Mr.  Lindsay,  and  I  am  so 
glad  you  have  proposed  it.  I  have  many  a  time  envied 
you  the  way  you  would  polish  off'  those  dreadful  problems 
as  if  you  thought  them  fun,  and  I  arn  sure  you  can  help 
me  immensely  in  getting  ready  for  tiie  examinations; 


236 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


and  of  course  I  will  be  only  too  glad  to  help  you  all  I 
can  in  the  classics."    It  was  accordingly  so  arranged. 

With  a  much  lighter  heart,  Donald  toiled  awav  at  his 
books,  and  presently  the  examinations  began.  It  was, 
however,  upon  the  whole  an  anxious  fortnight.  Mr. 
Munroe  noticed  this,  and  rallied  him  about  it. 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  worrying  about,  Donald  ? " 
said  he,  apropos  of  a  tremendous  sigh  that  had  just 
escaped  from  the  other's  brenst.  "Surely  you  do  not 
mean  to  pretend  that  you  are  troubled  in  mind  as  to  how 
you  will  come  out.  My  dear  boy,  you  just  ought  to  be 
ashamed  of  yourself.  I  know  you  work  with  all  your 
might,  and  I  have  good  reason  to  Lalieve  that  you  do  nut 
forget  to  pray."  It  was  a  wise  and  well-meant  reproof, 
and  Donald  made  no  attempt  to  evade  it. 

On  the  eagerly  anticipated  day  when  the  results  would 
be  declared,  Donald's  heart  was  thumping  against  his 
ribs  as  he  pushed  his  way  through  the  crowd  and  at  last 
succeeded  in  getting  in  front  of  the  blackboard,  which 
was  placed  in  the  corridor  of  the  university.  With 
anxious  eve  he  scanned  the  momentous  lists.  The  first 
one  he  caught  sight  of  was  mathematics. 

"Hurrah!"  he  exclaimed,  "I  have  gotten  a  good 
second  class." 

Then  he  hunted  for  the  modern  languages.  "  Better 
still !  "  was  the  joyful  cry,  "  I  am  in  the  first  class." 

A  little  distance  away  were  the  classics  and  literature 
lists,  side  by  side.  By  dint  of  an  extra  effort  he  got 
before  them.   And  now  he  felt  like  flinging  his  hat  to  the 


T. 


k-rri' 


DOXALD  OnAXT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


237 


p  you  all  I 
irranged. 
away  at  his 
an.  It  was, 
night.  Mr. 
t. 

t,  Donald?" 
at  had  just 
you  do  not 
ud  as  to  how 
ought  to  be 
ith  all  your 
it  you  do  not 
ant  reproof, 

esults  would 
against  his 
I  and  at  last 
oard,  which 
sity.  "With 
The  first 

ten  a   good 

p.    "  Better 
class." 
i  literature 
Fort  he  got 
is  hat  to  the 


ceiling  and  hurrahing  at  the  top  of  his  voice  ;  for  this  is 
what  the  lists  told  him : 

In  English  literature  he  stood  easily  first,  with  a  per- 
centage of  ninety-two,  and  in  classics  he  was  also  first 
with  a  percentage  of  ninety-five  I 

Many  were  the  congratulations  he  received  upon  his 
winning  two  prizes  ;  for  although  these  were  never  very 
costly  aflTairs,  it  was  the  honor,  not  the  value,  that  the 
students  regarded. 

"  I  am  as  proud  of  you  as  if  you  were  my  own  brother, 
Donald,"  said  Mr.  Munroe,  on  hearing  the  good  news. 
"  Dear  me !  "  he  added,  "  some  day,  I  suppose,  when  you 
have  become  famous  and  I,  if  still  alive,  am  just  an  in- 
significant useless  individual,  people  will  be  saying  about 
me,  '  That  is  poor  Munroe.  He  used  to  be  the  great  Mr. 
Grant's  teacher,  and  now  see  how  his  pupil  has  out- 
stripped him.' " 

Donald  laughed  merrily  at  this,  for  he  saw  it  was  only 
said  in  jest. 

*•  You  are  altogether  too  hard  on  yourself,  Mr.  Mun- 
roe,' he  responded.  *'  I  don't  think  there  is  much  fear 
of  your  only  claim  to  fame  being  that  once  upon  a  time 
you  were  my  teacher.  You  will  have  sometliing  far 
better  than  that  to  boast  of  before  you  are  many  years 
older." 

Mr.  Munroe  smiled  and  shook  his  head  in  mock  des- 
pondency. 

*'  It  is  very  good  of  you  to  say  so,  Donald,  but  I  am 
afraid  you  are  a  partial  prophet,  and  you  like  to  *  redict 


238 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


I 


what  you  know  will  be  pleasing.  However,"  he  added,  in 
a  lighter  tone,  "  maybe  there  is  a  good  time  coming  even 
for  me.  Let  us  talk  about  something  of  more  importance. 
When  do  you  intend  to  start  for  home  ?  " 

Donald's  intention  was  to  start  the  morning  after  Con- 
vocation ;  but  his  friend  stoutly  objected,  as  he  had 
planned  to  give  a  dinner  in  his  honor  on  the  evening  of 
that  day,  and  he  was  determined  to  carry  out  his  purpose. 
So  Donald  was  persuaded  to  postpone  his  departure  for 
one  day. 

The  Convocation  ceremonies  were  very  brilliant  and 
Donald,  the  only  student  to  carry  off  two  class  prizes, 
came  in  for  thundering  rounds  of  applause  when  he  went 
up  to  the  platform  to  receive  the  books  that  were  awarded 
him. 

Mr.  Munroe's  dinner  the  following  evening  was  a 
delightful  success.  Among  the  guests,  of  whom  there 
were  no  less  than  twenty,  were  nearly  all  the  professors 
of  the  universitv,  and  several  of  the  students  who  had 
distinguished  themselves;  nor  did  the  ever-thoughtful 
host  overlook  Mr.  Lindsay,  to  whom  the  perfectly 
appointed  entertainment  was  something  of  a  revelation. 


I'''! 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

HOME   MISSIONARY   WORK. 

l^TEXT  morning  Donald  bade  good-bye  to  his  kind 
-L^  friend,  though  not  before  he  had  received  his  promise 
to  pay  Rivervale  a  visit  during  the  summer,  and  began 
his  journey  homeward.  He  was  in  the  happiest  possFble 
frame  of  mind.  The  whole  world  seemed  to  him  as  full 
of  hope,  of  cheer,  of  brilliant  prospects,  as  it  was  of  sun- 
shine on  that  glorious  spring  morning.  He  felt  like 
smiling  into  the  face  of  every  one  he  met,  and  telling 
something  of  the  good  fortune  that  had  befallen  him. 

Among  the  passengers  was  an  old  gentleman  who,  after 
watching  him  for  some  time  with  evident  interest,  at  last 
addressed  him  as  he  was  passing  down  the  aisle  of  the  car  : 

"Pardon  me,"  said  he,  with  grave  courtesy,  "but  are 
you  not  a  son  of  Grant,  the  carpenter,  of  Rivervale  ? " 

"I  am,  sir,"  answered  Donald,  recognizing  in  his 
questioner,  Mr.  Miller,  the  wealthy  banker  of  Beech- 
mount. 

"  You  have  been  attending  the  universitv,  I  believe," 
continued  Mr.  Miller.  « I  would  like  to  hear  how  you 
succeeded.    Sit  here  beside  me  and  tell  me,  won't  you  ? " 

"  I  will  with  pleasure,  sir,"  replied  Donald,  glad  to 
find  some  one  to  whom  to  speak  his  mind  ;  and  taking 
his  seat  beside  the  banker  he  entered  into  a  graphic 

230 


i] 


240 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


I 


account  of  his  life  at  Chebucto,  describing  the  university, 
its  different  professors,  the  Debating  Society,  and  the 
students,  and  so  on  for  hour  after  hour  while  the  train 
sped  swiftly  onward. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  journey  Mr.  Miller  kept 
Donald  at  his  side,  and  when  the  coach  which  they  had 
taken  at  New  Edinburgh  dashed  down  the  main  street 
of  Beechraount  in  its  usual  impressive  manner,  and 
drew  up  before  the  door  of  the  principal  hotel,  he  shook 
hands  with  him  very  cordially,  saying : 

"I  have  enjoyed  your  company  greatly,  Donald 
Grant ;  you  have  made  what  would  otherwise  have  been  a 
tedious  journey  very  pleasant  for  me.  I  shall  want  to 
see  more  of  you.  You  may  hear  from  me  again  before 
long." 

Donald  knew  enough  of  the  old  banker  to  understand 
that  such  warm,  kind  words  came  very  rarely  from  his 
thin,  firm  lips,  and  that  therefore  he  had  a  right  to  feel 
highly  complimented.  When  he  repeated  to  his  father 
what  Mr.  Miller  had  said,  Mr.  Grant  opened  his  eyes  in 
wonderment. 

"  Why,  Donald,  my  son,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you  surely 
have  found  what  manv  another  has  looked  for  in  vain, 
and  that  is  the  wav  into  old  Mr.  Miller's  heart.  I  never 
knew  of  words  like  those  coming  from  his  mouth  before. 
But  you  have  always  been  a  rare  hand  at  making 
friends,"  he  added,  giving  his  son  a  glowing  glance  of 
proud  affection. 

The  big  express  wagon  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant,  Hugh, 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


241 


universitv, 
V,  and  the 
e  the  train 

Miller  kept 
h  they  had 
main  street 
inner,  and 
;1,  he  shook 

V,  Donald 
lave  been  a 
lall  want  to 
gain  before 

understand 

y  from  his 

ight  to  feel 

his  father 

his  eyes  in 

you  surely 
for  in  vain, 
t.  I  never 
>uth  before, 
at  making 
glance  of 

•ant,  Hugh, 


the  eldest,  and  Meg,  the  youngest,  member  of  the  family, 
had  come  into  the  village  to  meet  the  coach,  and  the 
loving  greetings  showered  upon  Donald  fairly  brought 
the  tears  to  his  eyes. 

"  If  the  folks  at  home  were  so  glad  to  have  him  back, 
was  it  not  selfish  of  him  to  go  away  at  all,"  he  thought. 

For  a  week  he  gave  himself  up  to  idling,  pure  and 
simple,  and  then  he  began  to  consider  what  he  would  do 
during  the  long  mouths  of  vacation.  He  could,  to  be 
sure,  make  himself  useful  at  home  by  assisting  in  the 
farmwork  ;  but  if  it  were  possible,  he  wanted  to  obtain 
some  employment  that  would  be  remunerative,  and  thus 
enable  him  to  add  to  the  slender  fund  upon  which  he 
had  to  depend  to  pay  his  way  through  the  university. 

This,  however,  would  be  no  easy  matter.  There  were 
no  schools  requiring  teachers,  and  no  position  vacant  in 
any  of  the  village  stores.  It  seemed,  therefore,  as 
though  he  would  have  to  give  up  the  idea  when  the 
mail-bag,  one  evening,  had  a  letter  for  him  in  an  un- 
familiar hand,  which  proved  to  be  from  Mr.  Miller. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  you  at  your  first  opportunity.  I 
have  something  to  propose  to  you  that  may  be  to  your 
advantage." 

That  was  all.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  man  of  few  words. 
But  Donald  needed  nothins  more,  and  somehow  diviiiinij 
what  the  banker  had  in  view,  went  off*  the  next  morning, 
bright  and  early,  to  call  upon  him. 

He  was  very  graciously  received,  and  after  some  gen- 
eral conversation,  Mr.  Miller  made  known  his  object  in 

Q 


242 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


r- 


sending  for  him.  Hitherto,  he  had  attended  to  his  bank- 
ing business  without  any  assistance,  but  he  was  begin- 
ning to  find  it  too  onerous,  especially  during  the  summer 
season  when  the  bulk  of  the  village  business  was  done. 
He  accordingly  thought  he  would  allow  himself  a  clerk, 
and  if  Donald  cared  to  accept  the  position,  it  was  open 
to  him  at  a  salary  of  ten  dollars  per  week  until  he  had 
to  return  to  college. 

How  Donald's  heart  leaped  for  joy  as  he  listened  to 
Mr.  Miller  stating  this  in  his  calm,  deliberate  way !  It 
was  a  most  attractive  offer  in  every  respect,  and  without 
a  moment's  hesitation  he  accepted  it,  at  the  same  time 
expressing  his  heartfelt  gratitude  for  the  thoughtful 
kindness  that  had  prompted  its  being  made 

This  was  the  beginning  of  Donald's  clerkship,  which 
continued  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  employer  and 
himself  up  to  within  a  few  days  of  his  return  to  Chebucto. 

He  now  found  himself  in  a  particularly  favorable  po- 
sition for  carrying  out  the  purpose  he  had  brought  from 
Chebucto  with  him,  namely,  the  organizing  of  an  insti- 
tute in  connection  with  the  Baptist  Church  of  Beech- 
mount.  He  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Brook- 
field,  the  new  pastor,  shortly  after  his  return,  and  had  at 
once  been  warmly  attracted  to  him,  just  as  his  mother 
predicted. 

On  making  known  his  idea  to  Mr.  Brookfield,  he  had 
be^u  met  with  a  very  hearty  response.  The  young  pas- 
tor, eager  to  meet  the  needs  of  his  congregation  at  all 
points,  so  far  as  possible,  had  been  giving  much  thought 


^■"■i 


Tl 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


243 


;o  his  bank- 
was  begin- 
he  summer 
1  was  done, 
ilf  a  clerk, 
t  was  open 
Qtil  he  had 

listened  to 

;e  way !     It 

md  without 

same  time 

thoughtful 

ship,  which 
ployer  and 
0  Chebucto. 
vorable  po- 
ousfht  from 
Df  an  insti- 
of  Beech- 
yir.  Brook- 
and  had  at 
his  mother 

eld,  he  had 
young  pas- 
ition  at  all 
ich  thought 


to  the  young  men,  who  seemed  to  have  no  better  way  of 
spending  their  evenings  than  to  lounge  about  the  hotel 
steps,  or  loiter  aimlessly  around  the  post-office,  if  they 
did  no  worse.  His  heart  went  out  to  them  in  great  long- 
ing to  bring  them  under  better  influences,  and  the 
scheme  of  the  institute  seemed  to  him  full  of  promise  in 
that  very  direction. 

"  I  cannot  thank  you  enough,  Mr.  Grant,  for  the  new 
ideas  you  have  given  me,  and  I  trust  I  may  count  upon 
your  kind  assistance  in  putting  them  into  practice  here. 
I  will  write  to  Mr.  Sterlins^  without  delav,  to  ask  his 
counsel,  and  I  feel  very  sanguine  of  great  good  coming 
out  of  this  scheme,  if  it  is  only  faithfully  carried  out." 

But,  of  course,  this  meant  delay.  In  the  meantime, 
however,  Donald  was  not  idle.  His  business  position 
brought  him  into  constant  contact  with  otlier  clerks,  and 
he  lost  no  opportunity  of  cultivating  their  acquaintance, 
80  that  it  was  not  long  before  he  knew  the  majority  of  the 
young  men  of  Beechmonnt.  More  than  this,  whenever 
the  chance  presented  itself,  he  sought  to  arouse  in  them  a 
desire  for  self-improvement.  He  dilated  upon  the  delights 
of  readintr,  and  offered  freelv  the  loan  of  his  books.  He 
also  had  much  to  say  about  the  Institute  of  Calvary 
Church,  and  how  interesting  its  meetings  were,  the  lively 
debates  they  had,  and  the  enjoyable  evenings  of  music 
and  readings  and  addresses. 

Thus  he  sowed  the  seed  during  tlie  summer  months,  co- 
operating with  Mr.  Brookfield  in  the  work  of  preparing 
the  way  for  the  public  submission  of  the  scheme,  which 


■P 


244 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


would  take  place  as  soon  as  the  approach  of  autumn 
turned  people's  thoughts  indoors,  so  to  speak. 

It  was  an  exceedingly  happy  summer  for  all  the  occu- 
pants of  the  white  cottage  at  Rivervale.  Business  had 
been  brisk  in  the  shop  for  some  time  past,  the  farm  gave 
promise  of  unusually  fine  crops,  and  everybody  was  in 
the  best  of  health  and  spirits. 

To  make  the  family  circle  and  the  family  joy  complete, 
Charlie,  the  sailor  boy,  one  day  made  his  appearance  and 
was  welcomed  with  exuberant  rejoicing.  His  ship  was 
laid  up  for  repairs  at  a  neighboring  port,  and  the  captain, 
in  whose  favor  he  stood  high,  had  kindly  given  him  a 
fortnight's  leave  to  visit  his  home. 

He  had  grown  into  a  handsome  youth  during  his  year 
at  sea,  and  the  mother's  heart  was  glad  that  her  keen  eyes 
detected  no  signs  of  any  falling  into  evil  liabits ;  the  ha])py 
truth  being  that  in  spite  of  all  temptation  he  had  been 
sturdily  faithful  to  the  pledge  given  his  father  before  he 
went  away,  and  had  come  back  with  as  clear  a  record  as 
he  took  away  with  him. 

He,  of  course,  at  once  divided  with  Donald  the  atten- 
tions of  the  household  and  of  the  neighbors,  but  Donald 
was  not  jealous.  He  felt  as  proud  of  his  handsome  sailor 
brother  as  Charlie  did  of  his  brilliant  student  brother, 
and  the  two  were  united  bv  the  closest  affection. 

Charlie's  passion  for  the  sea  had  not  been  diminished 
by  actual  experience  of  its  peril  and  hardships.  On  the 
contrary,  he  was  more  enthusiastic  than  ever ;  and  in  view 
of  his  quick  intelligence,  his  dauntless  courage,  his  exem- 


DONALD   grant's   DEVELOPMENT. 


245 


Df  autumn 

the  occu- 
siness  had 
farm  g^ve 
dy  was  in 

'  complete, 
irance  and 
I  ship  was 
he  captain, 
s'en  him  a 

g  his  year 

r  keen  eyes 

the  ha])py 

had  been 

before  he 

.  record  as 

the  atten- 
ut  Donald 
lome  sailor 
it  brother, 
ti. 

limiuished 
On  the 
nd  in  view 
,  his  exem- 


plary character,  and  high  ambition,  there  seemed  no 
reason  to  doubt  that  if  no  mischance  befell  him,  he  would 
within  a  few  years  be  in  command  himself  instead  of 
serving  under  another. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  Mr.  Munroe  paid  his 
promised  visit  and  remained  for  a  month  at  Rivervale, 
where  his  gentle,  genial  manner  made  him  increasingly 
beloved.  He  was  much  interested  in  the  scheme  of 
starting  an  institute  in  the  village,  and  promised  if  it 
were  carried  '^^ut,  to  contribute  a  number  of  books  that 
might  form  the  nucleus  of  a  library  for  the  use  of  the 
members.  Before  he  went  away,  he  made  Donald  promise 
to  spend  another  winter  with  him  in  Chebucto. 

"  You  are  really  necessary  to  my  happiness,  Donald," 
he  said  in  his  sweet,  half-serious,  half-lmmorous  way. 
"  And  I  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  your  being  in  the 
same  city  with  me  and  not  under  my  roof." 

Donald,  in  truth,  was  but  too  glad  to  consent,  so  that 
the  matter  did  not  take  long  to  settle. 

Mr.  Brookfield  and  he  had  decided  tliat  early  in  Sep- 
tember would  be  the  right  time  to  launch  the  proposed 
institute.  Accordingly,  on  the  first  Sunday  of  that 
month,  the  pastor  announced  that  a  meeting  would  be 
held  for  the  purpose  on  the  following  Tuesday  evening. 
By  this  time  the  leading  members  of  the  congregation 
had  been  thoroughly  canvassed,  and  either  their  support 
secured,  or  their  curiosity  aroused  in  advance.  There 
was  therefore  good  reason  to  expect  a  large  attendance 
at  the  meeting. 


246 


v-rr,) 


DONALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


Among  others  whom  Donald  had  sought  to  interest  was 
his  employer.  Mr.  M'Uer  seemed  fond  of  drawing  him 
into  conversation,  and  even  of  having  discussions  with 
him  on  virions  subjects,  so  that  he  had  no  difficulty  in 
introdin  iiig  the  subject  of  the  institute.  But  the  banker 
^i^peared  very  sceptical,  if  no:,  indeed  contemptuous. 

"  I  have  little  faith  in  that  notion,"  he  said,  with  one 
of  his  grim  smiles.  "  It  will  la^t  jnly  until  the  novelty 
wears  off,  and  then  the  cry  will  be  for  something  newer." 

Of  course,  Donald  protested  that  there  was  not  the 
slightest  ftar  of  anything  of  the  kind  occuring,  and  that 
the  provision  for  the  utilizing  of  the  young  people  in  the 
extension  of  the  work  of  the  church  was  a  magnificent 
conception,  which  could  not  fail  to  have  the  most  bene- 
ficial results  where  wisely  carried  out.  He  even  quoted 
Mr.  Sterling's  glowing  prophecies  as  to  the  future. 

To  all  this  Mr.  Miller  listened  without  any  indication 
of  yielding  assent,  and  Donald  decided  that  no  counte- 
nance nor  assistance  could  be  expected  from  him,  although 
he  was  one  of  the  chief  financial  supports  of  Mr.  Brook- 
field's  church. 

The  meeting  took  place  on  the  evening  appointed,  and 
in  the  church  itself  To  the  great  delight  of  the  two 
promoters  the  building,  by  eight  o'clock,  was  nearly  as 
full  as  on  a  fine  Sunday  morning.  Many,  of  course,  had 
come  out  of  pure  curiosity,  but  tliere  were  also  many 
others  present  who  had  become  deeply  interested  in  the 
scheme,  through  having  been  talked  to  about  it  by  either 
the  pastor  or  Donald. 


r. 


interest  was 
-awing  him 
ssions  with 
lifficulty  in 
the  banker 
ptuous. 
i,  with  one 
;he  novelty 
:ng  newer." 
as  not  the 
^,  and  that 
ople  in  the 
aagnificent 
most  bene- 
'en  quoted 
are. 

indication 
no  counte- 
1,  ahhough 
tlr.  Brook- 

inted,  and 
tf  the  two 

nearly  as 
ourse,  had 
ilso  many 
ted  in  the 

by  either 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


BY   WAY   OF  CONCLUSION. 


AFTER  devotional  exercises  Mr.  Brookfield  briefly 
stated  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  then  called 
upon  Donald  for  a  fuller  explanation.  As  the  latter 
rose  to  his  feet,  there  was  a  rustle  of  excited  expectation 
throuirh  the  large  audience,  and  everv  eve  was  fixed 
intently  upon  him.  The  prophet  was  in  his  own  coun- 
try, now,  and  among  his  own  countrymen  ;  and  strange 
to  say,  they  were  prepared  to  honor  him.  Accounts  of 
his  achievements  at  Chebucto,  in  both  intellectual  and 
physical  spheres,  had  been  from  time  to  time  made  pub- 
lic by  Mr.  Patterson,  and  stirred  tlie  pride  of  the  villajie. 
Since  his  return  he  had,  by  his  frank,  natural  man- 
ner, made  friends  on  all  sides,  and  this  wns  the  first 
opportunity  there  had  been  of  hearing  him  speak  in 
public. 

By  dint  of  practice,  Donald  had  pretty  well  gotten  the 
upper  hand  of  the  nervousness  that  tried  him  so  severely 
in  bis  early  efforts;  but  the  present  occasion  was  in  many 
respects  so  peculiar,  that  he  would  have  had  to  be  made 
of  adamant  if  his  nerves  had  not  been  in  a  quiver  as  he 
faced  those  who  were  waiting  for  his  words. 

Regardless,  however,  of  his  nervousness,  Donald,  in  a 
steady  voice,  began  his  address,  and  with  a  sigh  of  satis- 

247 


248 


DOXALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


faction  at  his  promising  start,  the  audience  settled  down 
to  listen  attentively. 

His  idea  had  been  that  he  would  speak  for  not  more 
than  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  and  confine  himself  to  a 
description  of  the  Institute  at  Calvary  Church,  leaving 
to  Mr.  Brookfield  ihe  apj^eal  to  the  ppople  to  establish  a 
similar  organization  in  Beechniount.  But  when  he  got 
into  the  full  flow  of  thought  and  language,  and  found 
his  listeners  growing  more  and  more  interested,  he  en- 
tirely forgot  his  original  purpose,  and  allowed  himself  to 
be  carried  away  by  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion. 

He  had  just  gotten  well  started  when  who  should 
quietly  enter  the  church  but  Mr.  Miller.  Donald  ob- 
served his  entrance,  but  it  did  not  disconcert  him  in  the 
least.     On  the  contrarv,  he  said  to  himself: 

"  I  am  glad  Mr.  Miller  has  come  in.  I  will  just  think 
I  am  arofuing  the  case  with  him  alone,  and  trving  to 
answer  all  his  questions  and  remove  all  his  objections." 

So  he  thenceforth  addressed  himself  to  the  banker, 
who  sat  listening  attentively,  with  half-shut  eyes,  from 
which  every  now  and  then  he  shot  quick  glances  of 
approval  at  the  youthful  speaker.  Whatever  he  thougiit 
of  his  arguments,  he  certainly  was  pleased  with  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  were  being  presented. 

It  was  nearlv  an  hour  before  Donald  brou2:ht  his  ad- 
dress  to  a  close,  yet  there  were  no  signs  of  flagging  in- 
terest, on  the  part  of  his  audience.  After  describing  in 
detail  the  Calvary  Institute,  he  had  gone  on  to  tell  of 
the  good  work  it  was  doing  in  the  subur])3  of  the  city, 


I 


DONALD   grant's    DEYELOriiENT. 


249 


Jttled  down 

r  not  more 

imself  to  a 

cli,  leaving 

estabiisii  a 

lien  he  got 

and  fouiid 

?ted,  he  en- 

hiraself  to 

^sion. 

ho  should 
)onald  ob- 
him  in  the 

just  think 
trving  to 
bjections." 
e  banker, 
3yes,  from 
lances  of 
e  thought 
the  nuin- 

t  his  ad- 
miring in- 
ribing  in 
0  tell  of 
the  citv. 


'■i 


and  of  the  expectations  Mr.  Sterling  confidently  held  of 
the  fruits  of  the  work.  He  then  irave  an  attractive  ac- 
count  of  the  intellectual  and  social  features  of  the  Insti- 
tute's work — of  the  lively  debates,  the  interesting  read- 
ings, the  good  music,  and  the  delightful  gatherings,  wliea 
the  meniber^^  .'  the  congregation  met  in  tiie  church  par- 
lors as  in  a  private  parlor  for  purely  social  intercourse. 

Having  tiius  gone  well  over  the  ground,  he  felt  an 
irresisti])le  impuL-i  t«  continue  by  making  a  direct  appeal 
to  the  young  men  of  Beechmount.  He  knew  every  one 
of  them,  and  the  temptations  to  which  they  were  exposed. 
He  believed  wiih  his  whole  heart  that  the  Institute 
would  help  them  to  meet  those  temptations,  and  be  of 
incalculable  value  in  the  direction  of  self-improvement. 

With  impassioned  earnestness,  therefore,  he  besought 
them  to  unite  heartily  with  Mr.  Brookfield  for  the  good 
purpose  in  view,  and  concluded  by  announcing  the  offer 
made  by  his  friend  in  Chebucto,  of  a  number  of  appro- 
priate books  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a  library. 

When  he  resumed  liis  seat  the  people,  forgetting  for 
the  moment  that  they  were  in  the  church,  broke  out  into 
a  hearty  round  of  applause.  His  speech  had  been  a 
complete  success,  and  had  made  a  profound  impression, 
particularly  upon  the  young  men,  the  very  ones  he  was 
most  anxious  to  influence.  They  were  ready  at  thiii  mo- 
ment if  the  question  were  put,  to  vote  unanimously  for 
the  organization  of  an  Institute  right  away. 

Before  inviting  the  collective  opinion  of  the  meeting, 
however,  Mr.   Brookfield  said,  rising  to  his  feet  with  a 


250 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


glowing  face,  for  Donald's  fervent  words  had  siirred  him 
to  the  depths,  *'  We  have  all  listened  to  Mr.  Grant's 
eloquent  address  with  the  growing  conviction  that  the 
time  has  fullv  come  for  the  establishment  of  an  Institute 
in  connection  with  our  church,  and  we  cannot  be  suffi- 
ciently grateful  to  our  young  brother  for  the  whole- 
souled  way  in  which  he  has  advocated  this  admirable 
scheme,  and  prepared  the  way  for  its  being  put  into  exe- 
cution. And  now  the  meeting  is  open  to  our  friends.  Let 
there  be  a  free  and  frank  expression  of  opinion,  so  that 
we  may  understand  one  another  perfectly  at  the  outset." 

For  a  few  moments  there  was  silence,  and  then  old 
Deacon  Gooderson,  the  patriarch  of  the  church,  slowly 
lifted  his  saintlv  head,  and  in  a  faint  vet  clear  voice,  said : 

"The  sands  of  my  life  are  fast  running  out.  I  can  no 
longer  help  in  good  works  except  by  praying  for  them, 
but  this  let  me  sav :  I  am  convinced  that  this  Institute 
will  be  a  ereat  blessing  to  us,  and  mv  last  davs  will  be 
brighter  for  the  knowledge  that  it  is  in  our  midst.  I 
earnestly  trust  that  it  may  be  established  at  once." 

Others  followed  in  the  same  strain.  There  were  some 
questions  asked,  but  no  adverse  comments  of  any  kind 
made,  and  Mr.  Brookfield,  satisfied  that  nothing  more 
needed  be  said,  was  about  to  call  upon  the  meeting  for  a 
united  expression  of  opinion,  when  \e  observed  Mr. 
Miller  rising  to  his  feet,  and  paused  in  order  to  give  him 
an  opportunity  to  say  what  was  in  his  mind. 

The  banker's  voice  was  not  often  heard  in  public,  but 
when  be  did  speak  what  he  said  was  generally  accepted 


DONALD  GRANTS  DEV£LOrMJ:NT. 


251 


ill 


as  conclusive,  for  there  was  not  a  stronger,  clearer,  wiser 
head  than  his  in  Beechmount,  and  his  wealtli,  of  course, 
lent  additional  weight  to  his  opinions. 

"  I  must  confe-3,"  said  he,  in  his  dignified,  deliberate 
way,  '•  that  I  came  here  to-night  largely  out  of  curiosity. 
But  I  have  been  deeply  interested  by  what  I  have  heard, 
and  am  glad  to  observe  that  this  meeting  is  about 
unanimous  as  to  the  propriety  of  giving  this  new  scheme, 
so  vigorously  laid  before  us,  a  fair  trial.  I  cannot,  my- 
self, take  any  active  part  in  the  enterprise,  but  have 
much  pleasure  in  offering  an  annual  subscription  of  one 
hundred  dollars  toward  its  current  expenses." 

Again  the  audience  broke  out  into  hearty  applause. 
Mr.  Miller's  speech  might  not  be  as  eloquent  as  Donald's, 
but  its  concluding  sentence  completely  removed  one  ob- 
stacle that  the  proposed  organization  would  have  to  face, 
namely,  the  question  of  expense. 

'•  I  feel  like  calling  upon  you  to  join  with  me  in 
singing  the  doxology,"  said  Mr.  Brook  field,  his  face 
beaming  with  delight,  as  Mr.  Miller  took  his  seat  again. 

'■  But  before  doing  that  I  will  ask  you  to  express  your 
feelings  in  another  way.  Will  all  those  who  are  in  favor 
of  an  Institute  being  formed  in  connection  with  this 
church,  signify  it  by  standing  up." 

Instantly  the  entire  audience  rose,  and  stood  looking 
at  their  young  pastor. 

'' Now,"  he  cried,  "let  us  all  sing  '  Praise  God  from  all 
blessings  flow.' "' 

Like  one  person  the  large  gathering  burst  forth  into 


mSBP 


252 


DONALD  GRANT^S  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  psalm  of  praise,  and  the  waves  of  raelody  went  out 
into  the  village  streets,  making  the  passers-by  wonder 
what  kind  of  a  service  was  going  on  within. 

An  hour  or  more  was  spent  in  tiie  election  of  the 
officers,  the  result  being  that  the  pastor  was  chosen  as 
president,  Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  Patterson,  and  Donald  as 
vice-presidents,  a  middle-aged  merchant  ac  treasurer,  a 
live  young  lawyer  as  secretary,  and  six  excellent  young 
men  to  constitute  the  committee  together  with  half  as 
raanv  ladies. 

During  the  remaining  month  of  his  vacation,  Donald 
was  indefatigable  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  young 
societv.  Hardlv  a  dav  passed  that  he  and  Mr.  Brook- 
field  did  not  consult  toL^ether  concernino:  it.  Mr.  Miller 
paid  his  first  annual  subscription  as  soon  as  the  treasurer 
was  ready  to  receive  it,  and  by  general  consent  one-half 
the  amount  was  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  periodi- 
cals and  papers  for  the  reading-room,  that  was  to  be  an 
important  feature  of  the  Institute's  attractions. 

Mr.  Munroe  did  not  forget  his  promise,  but  sent  down  a 
goodly  case  of  books, — some  from  his  own  shelves,  some 
fresh  from  the  booksellers, — which  made  a  promising  start 
for  a  library.  Especial  stress  was  laid  upon  the  reading 
room  and  library  because  of  the  conviction  of  their  value  in 
winning  young  men  from  the  street  at  night,  and  thereby 
bringing  them  within  the  circle  of  religious  influence. 

The  principal  feature  of  the  religious  work  of  the 
Institute  was  the  young  people's  prayer  meeting  on  Fri- 
day evening.     It  was  not  deemed  expedient  to  attempt 


T. 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


253 


ly  went  out 
-by  wonder 

!tion  of  the 
s  chosen  as 
Donald  as 
treasurer,  a 
llent  vounir 
ith  half  aa 


on,  Donald 
f  the  young 
Mr.  Brook- 
Mr.  Miller 
le  treasurer 
It  one-half 
of  periodi- 
is  to  be  an 

ent  down  a 
elves,  some 
nising  start 
he  readino: 
eir  value  in 
nd  tliereby 
ifluence. 
rk  of  the 
ng  on  Fri- 
to  attempt 


i 

P 


anything  more  at  the  outset,  but  personal  work  was  con- 
stantly urged  upon  the  active  members. 

By  the  time  Donald  had  to  return  to  resume  his 
studies  at  the  university,  the  Institute  was  in  full  swing, 
and  giving  every  promise  of  unqualified  success. 

"  You  have  rendered  us  a  service  that  can  never  be 
repaid  to  you  here,  my  brother,"  were  ^Ir.  Brookfield's 
parting  words.  *•  Your  reward  must  come  from  above. 
But  the  prayers  of  the  Institute  will  follow  you,  and 
God's  best  blessings  will  be  entreated  on  your  behalf." 

Five  years !  An  age  in  prospect,  but  dwindling  to  a 
span  in  retrospect.  They  were  busy  happy,  eventful  years 
for  Donald,  during  which  his  development,  intellectually 
and  spiritually,  went  steadily  forward. 

Two  of  them  were  spent  at  the  university,  where  he 
grew  in  fiivor  with  professors  and  students  alike,  until  he 
graduated  at  the  top  of  his  class,  and  with  the  highest 
honors  ever  conferred  in  the  history  of  the  university. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  his  class  chose  him  to  deliver 
the  valedictory.  He  accepted  the  commission  gladly. 
His  college  days  had  been  the  richest,  happiest,  most 
helpful  period  of  his  life.  He  felt  himself  overflowing 
with  gratitude  toward  tiie  teachers,  with  whom  his  rela- 
tions had  been  uninterruptedly  cordial,  and  he  evoked 
round  after  round  of  tumultuous  applause  as,  in  periods 
glowing  with  fervor  and  admirably  modelled,  he  pic- 
tured life  at  the  university  as  it  had  presented  itself  to 
him. 


254 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


^ 


"  The  best  valedictory  we  ever  heard,"  was  the  unani- 
mous verdict  of  both  professors  and  public. 

Durinif  his  vacations  Donald  continued  to  be  Mr. 
Miller's  clerk,  and  each  year  found  hiin  occupying  a 
larger  place  in  the  old  banker's  heart.  In  the  course  of 
the  summer  following  his  graduation,  Mr.  Miller  suddenly 
passed  away,  leaving  a  large  fortune,  the  greater  portion 
of  which  went  to  religious  and  benevolent  institutions ; 
for  he  was  almost  alone  in  the  world.  His  love  for 
Donald  manifested  itself  in  one  of  the  codicils.  It  was 
very  brief,  but  entirely  to  the  point ;  and  by  it  Donald 
became  possessed  of  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  "  to 
be  applied  by  him  to  the  completion  of  his  studies,  or  in 
any  other  way  tiiat  he  might  see  fit." 

When  Donald  learned  of  his  good  fortune  he  was 
ready  to  shout  aloud  for  joy,  but  not  simply  on  his  own 
account.  Like  a  flash,  he  made  up  his  mind  as  to  the 
disposal  of  this  godsend.  He  would  divide  it  eqvially 
with  his  father,  and  devote  his  own  half  to  the  completion 
of  liis  studies  as  his  benefactor  had  suggested. 

Mr.  Grant  was  growing  old,  and  finding  the  double 
burden  of  the  shop  and  farm  pressing  too  heavily  upon 
him.  The  shop  needed  a  complete  outfit  of  new  tools  and 
machinery,  the  farm  was  too  scant  of  itself  to  provide  a 
maintenance.  All  this  Donald  knew  well,  altliough  his 
brave,  loving  father  would  fain  hide  it  from  him. 

Oh  I  how  delightful  it  was  to  be  able  to  sav : 

"  Here,  father,  are  five  thousand  dollars.  Fit  out  the 
shop  with  the  best  tools  and  machinery.     Double   the 


T. 


i^-m>, 


DOXALD  GRANT'S  DEVELOPMENT. 


255 


3  the  unaiii- 

to  be  Mr. 
)ccupying  a 
le  course  of 
ler  suddenly 
ater  portion 
nstitutions ; 
[is  love  for 
ils.     It  was 

it  Donald 
dollars,  "  to 
udies,  or  in 

me  he  was 

on  his  own 

id  as  to  the 

it  equally 

completion 

the  double 
avily  upon 
w  tools  and 
provide  a 
though  his 
im. 

•'it  out  the 
)ouble  the 


bounds  of  your  farm.  Buy  stock  and  implements  of  the 
most  improved  kind,  and  then,  with  Hugh  in  the  shop, 
and  Bob  and  Har-y  on  the  farm,  you  can  take  it  easy  for 
the  remainder  of  your  days." 

Mr.  Grant  at  first  protested  against  accepting  the  gift, 
but  Donald  soon  overcame  his  scruples. 

*'  My  dear  father,"  said  he,  the  tears  coming  into  his 
eyes  as  he  spoke :  "  would  you  deny  me  the  sweetest 
])leasure  in  this  world  ?  Can  I  ever  fully  repay  you  f  )r 
what  you  and  mother  have  done  for  me,  and  do  you  think 
that  I  could  enjoy  one  dollar  of  Mr.  Miller's  legacy  if  I 
knew  that  you  were  toiling  away  here  under  such  dis- 
advantages ?  You  know  I  could  not.  No — no — father, 
if  you  won't  take  half  you  must  take  the  whole ;  for  I 
will  not  touch  a  dollar  of  it  on  anv  other  conditions." 

So  Donald  had  his  way.  An  adjoining  farm  on  the 
Harbor  Road  was  added  to  the  Grant  possessions. 
Horses  and  cattle  and  other  stock  were  purchased,  a 
fine  set  of  farming  implements  procured,  while  quiet, 
faithful  Hugh  rejoiced  in  an  equipment  of  tools  and 
machinery  that  enabled  him  to  successfully  compete  with 
anv  other  carriage  builder  in  his  territorv. 

Hnving  thus  disposed  of  one-half  his  fortune,  Donald 
with  the  other  half  continued  his  preparation  for  the  career 
he  had  in  view.  After  much  thought  and  ])rayer,  and 
consultation  with  ^Ir.  Sterling,  and  other  friends  whose 
counsel  he  valued,  he  had  decided  to  enter  the  ministry. 
The  divine  call  seemed  clear  beyond  all  question,  and  his 
heart  responded  to  it  gladly. 


256 


DONALD  grant's  DEVELOPMENT. 


To  his  three  years  at  Chebucto  University  were  added 
three  more  at  the  leading  Baptist  Theological  school  in 
the  United  States.  He  was  then  ordained,  and  it  was 
surely  no  mere  coincidence  that  his  first  call  should  be  to 
the  very  church  which  had,  as  Mr.  Sterling  had  so  confi- 
dently predicted,  grown  out  of  the  work  undertaken  by 
him  in  fear  and  trembling  in  connection  with  the  Calvary 
Church  In^^titute. 

One  of  the  largest  contributors  to  the  building  fund  of 
the  new  church  had  been  Mr.  Munroe,  who  in  an  unob- 
trusive wav  was  admiuisteriui'  his  estate  for  the  benefit 
of  humanity.  Before  Donald's  course  at  the  university 
ended,  his  friend  had  come  to  stand  with  him  upon  the 
same  enduring  foundation  of  faith,  and  had  dedicated  his 
life  to  the  service  of  God  and  his  fellowmen.  Every 
meritorious,  religious,  or  charitable  enterprise  found  in 
him  a  generous  donor,  and  the  list  of  his  benefactions 
lengthened  as  his  vears  increased. 

And  now  the  time  has  come  to  part  with  Donald  Grant. 
Not  that  the  story  of  his  development  reached  completion 
with  the  beginning  of  his  ministry.  That  event  simply 
marked  a  new  and  higher  stage  through  which,  however, 
we  cannot  follow  him  now.  Steadfast,  zealous,  untiring, 
he  labored  with  rare  success,  ever  finding  fulfilled  in  his 
experience  the  sweet  and  blessed  truth  of  the  text  that 
the  "  fruit  of  the  righteous  is  a  tree  of  life,  and  he  that 
winneth  souls  is  wise." 


THE   END. 


r. 

were  added 
1  school  in 
and  it  was 
hould  be  to 
ad  so  confi- 
artiiken  bv 
he  Calvary 

ng  fund  of 
I  an  unoi)- 
the  benefit 
university 
I  upon  the 
dicated  his 
n.  Every 
3  found  in 
3nefactions 


aid  Grant, 
completion 
mi  simply 
I,  however, 
!,  untiring, 
iUed  in  his 
text  that 
id  he  that 


